Compare towns
Carmel vs Exeter vs Chelsea
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($182k 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 | Exeter | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
16,151Highest |
2,823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.2±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Carmel 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Chelsea 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$85,471±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,373±$90 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.