Compare towns
Salisbury vs Wells 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%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Wells | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
11,713Highest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Wells 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% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Cornish 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.