What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).

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	Marblehead
People
Population	6,727Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Marblehead and Hermon 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%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marblehead 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 U.S.: 35.7%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hermon and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,629±$22kLowest 20% above U.S.	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$202Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S.	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marblehead and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#54 of 133 in ME	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Hermon Public Schools	Marblehead
High school in town	Hermon High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	10.7Lowest
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.