What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	2,941Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Carmel and Durham 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%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham and Carmel 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.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Carmel 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 133 in ME	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	None in town	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 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.