Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Exeter vs Hermon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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.

MeasureEllsworthExeterHermon
People
Population
8,657
16,151Highest
6,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+19.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
41.1±4.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
Exeter and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hermon and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$96,629±$22k
20% above U.S.
Exeter and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$333,600±$32k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,406±$202
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262
5% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$2,761Lowest
11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
28.2%±19.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
2000Highest
20 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #63 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH #54 of 133 in ME
School district Ellsworth Public Schools Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Hermon Public Schools
High school in town Ellsworth High School Exeter High School Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
12.1Lowest
14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 59 photos → 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.