What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

Portage has the most expensive homes ($146k 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	Portage
People
Population	1,146Highest	961Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-13.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.3±14.4Lowest 9% below NY	36.9±4.7Highest 7% below NY
	Portage and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29.9%±8.5Highest NY: 20.5%	29.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Hermon and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±5.8Highest NY: 17.9%	12.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hermon and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Hermon and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,896±$16kLowest 19% below NY	$70,556±$27kHighest 18% below NY
	Portage and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$105,500±$14kLowest 75% below NY	$145,600±$43kHighest 66% below NY
	Portage and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$435Lowest 44% below NY	$1,040±$313Highest 36% below NY
	Portage and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,076Lowest 68% below NY	$3,395Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.4%±35.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	81.3%±42.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Portage and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest NY: 14%	13.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 4% below NY	38 minHighest 16% above NY
Work from home	5.1%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%	4.3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hermon and Portage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.