What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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	Hanson	Hermon
People
Population	10,660Highest	6,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.	41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Hanson and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22%	21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hermon and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.	$96,629±$22kLowest 20% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$1,406±$202Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hanson and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.	$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hermon and Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA	#54 of 133 in ME
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Hermon Public Schools
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	14.6Lowest
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.