Compare towns
Jefferson vs Hermon vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.
| Measure | Jefferson | Hermon | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
6,727Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hermon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$96,629±$22kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Hermon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$333,600±$32kHighest about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Hermon and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Hermon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hermon Public Schools | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | 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.