What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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	Penobscot
People
Population	1,816Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S.	53.4±5.7Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Cornish and Penobscot 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%	18%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Penobscot and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Penobscot and Cornish 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%	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cornish and Penobscot 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.	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S.	$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Penobscot 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.	$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Cornish and Penobscot 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.	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot 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%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Penobscot 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	Penobscot 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.