What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).

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	Northbridge
People
Population	6,727Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Northbridge 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 U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hermon and Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hermon and Northbridge 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%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hermon and Northbridge 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.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Hermon and Northbridge 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.	$4,821Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Hermon Public Schools	Northbridge
High school in town	Hermon High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	10.8Lowest
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.