Compare towns
Carmel vs Brookline vs Etna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k 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.
| Measure | Carmel | Brookline | Etna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
531Lowest |
1,252 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
41.9±3.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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 about the U.S. average |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$72,379±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Carmel and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$183,000±$49kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,745Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Etna and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.