What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Levant has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Levant
People
Population	2,941Lowest	3,069Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME	39.7±2.2Lowest 11% below ME
	Carmel and Levant 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%	19.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Levant and Carmel 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%	18.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Levant and Carmel 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%	21.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Levant 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 10% above ME	$86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME
	Levant 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	$268,500±$27kHighest 9% below ME
	Levant and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Lowest 12% above ME	$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME
	Levant and Carmel 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	$2,580Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	45.7%±14Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Levant 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%	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1995Lowest 18 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	31 minHighest 27% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Levant 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	#124 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	RSU 87/MSAD 23
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.