What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	Jackson
People
Population	2,941Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 19% above U.S.	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson 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±$22kLowest about the U.S. average	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Jackson 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.	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Jackson 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.	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Carmel and Jackson 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%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	Jackson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.