What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).

Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Brooks	Carmel
People
Population	1,208Lowest	2,941Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.9±6.6Lowest about the ME average	46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME
	Carmel and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.6%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Brooks and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME	$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME
	Carmel and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME	$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME
	Carmel and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average	$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME
	Carmel and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,096Lowest 31% below ME	$2,662Highest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9%	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#77 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	RSU 87/MSAD 23
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.