What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).

Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).

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	Brandon	Hermon
People
Population	4,120Lowest	6,727Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.	41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hermon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brandon and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hermon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S.	$96,629±$22kHighest 20% above U.S.
	Hermon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S.	$333,600±$32kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average
	Hermon and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Highest 36% above U.S.	$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brandon and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brandon and Hermon 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	#69 of 70 in VT	#54 of 133 in ME
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	Hermon Public Schools
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	14.6Highest
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.