What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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	Danforth
People
Population	2,941Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME
	Danforth and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Danforth 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%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Carmel and Danforth 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	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,662Highest 12% below ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Carmel and Danforth 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	—
High school 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.