Compare towns
Salisbury vs Waltham 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 kids (20.1% under 18).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
452Lowest |
1,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waltham 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±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.