What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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	Hancock
People
Population	2,941Highest	2,518Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME	56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME
	Hancock 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%	13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Hancock 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%	30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hancock 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	$72,285±$5kLowest 3% below ME
	Carmel and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME	$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME
	Hancock and Carmel 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	$1,171±$65Lowest about the ME average
	Carmel and Hancock 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	$1,869Lowest 38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	42%±15.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Hancock 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%	8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Carmel and Hancock 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	#117 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	Hancock Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.