What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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	Hope
People
Population	1,816Highest	1,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S.	44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Cornish and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hope 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.	$86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Cornish and Hope 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.	$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Hope and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,219±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Cornish and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,796Highest 86% above U.S.	$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cornish and Hope 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%	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hope and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Cornish School District	Hope Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.