What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Lowell
People
Population	1,816Highest	1,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S.	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lowell 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.	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S.	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S.	$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,796Highest 86% above U.S.	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cornish and Lowell 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%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1% U.S.: 65.2%	94.1% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.
Work from home	12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cornish and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Cornish School District	Lowell School District
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.