What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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	Ellsworth
People
Population	6,727Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME	43±2.4Highest 4% below ME
	Ellsworth and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hermon and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ellsworth 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Ellsworth and Hermon 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 29% above ME	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME
	Hermon and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,600±$32kHighest 12% above ME	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
	Hermon and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,761Lowest 9% below ME	$3,262Highest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.2%±19.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Ellsworth 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 ME: 10.7%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 8% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	8.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hermon and Ellsworth 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	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Hermon Public Schools	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Hermon High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	12.7Lowest
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.