What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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	Peru
People
Population	6,727Highest	1,501Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Peru 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%	20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hermon and Peru 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%	21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Peru 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hermon and Peru 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	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
	Hermon and Peru 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	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,761Highest 9% below ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.2%±19.1Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hermon and Peru 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%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 8% below ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Peru 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	—
School district	Hermon Public Schools	RSU 56
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

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.