What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hiram has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

Raymond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	Hiram	Raymond
People
Population	1,748Lowest	4,610Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME	47.3±4.1Highest 6% above ME
	Raymond and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	19.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hiram and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.2%±5.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Raymond and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25%Lowest ME: 36.2%	49.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Raymond and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,813±$10kLowest 16% below ME	$88,194±$20kHighest 18% above ME
	Raymond and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,600±$42kLowest 13% below ME	$395,800±$42kHighest 33% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,070±$161Highest 6% below ME	$965±$397Lowest 15% below ME
	Hiram and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,106Lowest 31% below ME	$3,139Highest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±24.1Highest ME: 48.4%	38.3%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hiram and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 1 yr older than ME	1976 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 28% above ME	37 minHighest 50% above ME
Work from home	8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	32.3%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#112 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 55/MSAD 55	RSU 14
High school in town	Sacopee Valley High Sch	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
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.