What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Needham
People
Population	6,727Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.
	Needham and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Needham and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hermon and Needham 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%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham 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±$22kLowest 20% above U.S.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$202Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#54 of 133 in ME	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Hermon Public Schools	Needham
High school in town	Hermon High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	11.9Lowest
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.