Compare towns
Salisbury vs Townsend vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salisbury | Townsend | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859 88% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | North Middlesex | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.