What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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