Compare towns
Carmel vs Epping vs Etna
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k 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.
| Measure | Carmel | Epping | Etna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
7,430Highest |
1,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.9±3.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Epping 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Etna and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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±$22k about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$72,379±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Epping 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±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$183,000±$49kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Epping and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$1,745Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Lowest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Epping School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.