Compare towns
Carmel vs Brooks vs Parsonsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% 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 | Brooks | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,715 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the ME average |
| Carmel and Brooks 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% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield 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% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Parsonsfield and Brooks 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% |
27.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$72,045±$18k 4% below ME |
| Carmel and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME |
| Parsonsfield and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
$1,185±$312 4% above ME |
| Carmel and Parsonsfield 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 |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,350 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Parsonsfield and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
48 minHighest 97% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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.