What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k 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	Carmel	Benton
People
Population	2,941Highest	2,770Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME	42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME
	Carmel and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Benton 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%	21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Benton and Carmel 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%	21.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Benton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME	$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME
	Carmel and Benton 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	$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME	$1,110±$123Lowest about the ME average
	Carmel and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,662Highest 12% below ME	$1,758Lowest 42% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Benton 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%	10%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	20 minLowest 21% below ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Benton 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	#85 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	RSU 49/MSAD 49
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.