Compare towns
Carmel vs Cornwall vs Strafford
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 the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Cornwall | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Lowest 19% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Carmel and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| 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 |
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.