What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cornish	Acton
People
Population	1,816Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S.
	Cornish and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Cornish and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cornish and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S.	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
	Cornish and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S.	$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average
	Acton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$227 14% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,796Highest 86% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton 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	—	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Cornish School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.