What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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	Townsend
People
Population	6,727Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±4.7Highest 6% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Hermon and Townsend 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hermon and Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hermon and Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend 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±$22kLowest 20% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$202Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend 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.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Hermon Public Schools	North Middlesex
High school in town	Hermon High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	13.1Lowest
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.