What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).

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

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	Jay	Hermon
People
Population	4,657Lowest	6,727Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME	41.1±4.7Highest 8% below ME
	Hermon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.6%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hermon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	20.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hermon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hermon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME	$96,629±$22kHighest 29% above ME
	Hermon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME	$333,600±$32kHighest 12% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME	$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Lowest 26% below ME	$2,761Highest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	28.2%±19.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hermon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 13% below ME	23 minHighest 8% below ME
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hermon and Jay 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	#86 of 133 in ME	#54 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 73	Hermon Public Schools
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	14.6Highest
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.