What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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	Webster	Hermon
People
Population	17,748Highest	6,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	41.1±4.7Highest 6% above U.S.
	Hermon and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hermon and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hermon and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.	$96,629±$22kHighest 20% above U.S.
	Hermon and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.	$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average
	Hermon and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Highest 28% above U.S.	$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hermon and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#54 of 133 in ME
School district	Webster	Hermon Public Schools
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	14.6Highest
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.