Compare towns
Carmel vs Exeter vs Windsor vs Etna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Windsor has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Etna has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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.
| Measure | Carmel | Exeter | Windsor | Etna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
1,093Lowest |
2,690 |
1,252 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
41.9±3.4Lowest 6% below ME |
| Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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% ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Windsor 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 10% above ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$63,178±$5kLowest 15% below ME |
$72,379±$16k 3% below ME |
| Exeter 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±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$228,800±$22k 23% below ME |
$183,000±$49k 38% below ME |
| Carmel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,265±$400 11% above ME |
— |
| Carmel and Windsor 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,160 29% below ME |
$1,745 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 min 43% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #44 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | RSU 12 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.