What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Leeds has the most kids (30.6% under 18).

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	Leeds
People
Population	2,941Highest	2,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME	38.2±8.3Lowest 15% below ME
	Carmel and Leeds are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	30.6%±9.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Leeds and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	14.8%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Carmel and Leeds 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 ME: 36.2%	23%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	7.4%±3.7Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$22kLowest 10% above ME	$85,208±$14kHighest 14% above ME
	Leeds 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 13% below ME	$257,800±$27kHighest 13% below ME
	Leeds 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	$940±$461Lowest 17% below ME
	Carmel and Leeds 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	$2,565Lowest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	27.1%±11.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Leeds are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1989Lowest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	34 minHighest 37% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	10%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Leeds 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	—
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	RSU 52/MSAD 52
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.