Compare towns
Burnham vs Carmel vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Alton has the most renters (16.5% rent).
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 | Burnham | Carmel | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953 |
2,941Highest |
819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME |
49.1±5.9Highest 10% above ME |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Carmel and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Burnham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.2% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Burnham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
$62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
| Carmel and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
$179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$1,276±$187 12% above ME |
$866±$48Lowest 24% below ME |
| Burnham and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897 38% below ME |
$2,662Highest 12% below ME |
$1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham and Alton 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 | — | #77 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.