What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most people working from home (11.8%).

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	Rochester
People
Population	6,727Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.
	Rochester 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%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hermon and Rochester 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%	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hermon and Rochester 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%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hermon and Rochester 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.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hermon and Rochester 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	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average	$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Hermon and Rochester 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.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rochester 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%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Hermon Public Schools	Rochester School District
High school in town	Hermon High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	13.2Lowest
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.