Compare towns
Carmel vs Appleton vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Chelsea has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Carmel | Appleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.2±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chelsea and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$85,471±$10kHighest 14% above ME |
| Chelsea and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME |
| Carmel and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 12% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME |
| Chelsea and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 12% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,313Lowest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | — | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None 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.