Compare towns
Hadley vs Ogunquit vs Hermon vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hermon has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Essex has the highest household income ($157k).
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.
| Measure | Hadley | Ogunquit | Hermon | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
1,379Lowest |
6,727Highest |
3,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
$1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #116 of 282 in MA | — | #54 of 133 in ME | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | Hermon Public Schools | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.