What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Buxton	Carmel
People
Population	8,512Highest	2,941Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.5±3.9Lowest about the ME average	46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME
	Carmel and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.6%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%	16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Buxton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Buxton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,144±$21kHighest 34% above ME	$82,188±$22kLowest 10% above ME
	Buxton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,800±$21kHighest 20% above ME	$256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME	$1,276±$187Lowest 12% above ME
	Buxton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Highest 13% above ME	$2,662Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 39% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	8.8%±3.1Highest ME: 15.9%	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Buxton and Carmel 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	#104 of 133 in ME	#77 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	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.