What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).

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	Hampden	Hermon
People
Population	7,896Highest	6,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	41.1±4.7Highest 8% below ME
	Hermon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	21.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	20.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hermon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME	$96,629±$22kLowest 29% above ME
	Hampden and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$333,600±$32kHighest 12% above ME
	Hermon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME	$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME
	Hermon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$2,761Lowest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	28.2%±19.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hermon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 7% below ME	23 minLowest 8% below ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#54 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	Hermon Public Schools
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	14.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.