Compare towns

Hermon vs Plainfield vs Gray

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).

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.

MeasureHermonPlainfieldGray
People
Population
6,727
2,522Lowest
8,429Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+19.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±4.7
6% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
Gray and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hermon and Plainfield 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%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray 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±$22k
20% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield 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
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,406±$202
about the U.S. average
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
Plainfield and Hermon 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.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.2%±19.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Plainfield 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%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2000Highest
20 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
8.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Gray 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 #19 of 120 in NH #10 of 133 in ME
School district Hermon Public Schools Plainfield School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town Hermon High School None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Highest
—
12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.