What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k 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	Northfield
People
Population	6,727Highest	4,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	42.6±5.1Highest 10% above U.S.
	Northfield 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%	20.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hermon and Northfield 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%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hermon and Northfield 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%	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northfield 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 20% above U.S.	$92,917±$15kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Hermon and Northfield 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	$288,500±$33kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Hermon and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average	$1,076±$182Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Hermon and Northfield 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.	$5,097Highest 63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.2%±19.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hermon and Northfield 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%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	8.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hermon and Northfield 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	#109 of 120 in NH
School district	Hermon Public Schools	Winnisquam Regional School District
High school in town	Hermon High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6	—
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.