Compare towns
Salisbury vs Worcester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Worcester | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
831Lowest |
1,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% 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%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornish 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Worcester 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%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 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.