What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the most expensive homes ($257k median).

Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).

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	Dixmont
People
Population	2,941Highest	1,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME	50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME
	Dixmont 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%	15.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Dixmont 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%	19.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Dixmont 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%	24.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dixmont 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	$75,952±$14kLowest about the ME average
	Carmel and Dixmont 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	$190,700±$22kLowest 36% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Lowest 12% above ME	$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME
	Dixmont and Carmel 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	$1,548Lowest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	42.2%±70.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Dixmont 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%	7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1992Lowest 15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	35 minHighest 40% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dixmont 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	—
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	RSU 19
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.