What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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	Millis
People
Population	2,941Lowest	8,888Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.5 19% above U.S.	46.4±3 19% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Carmel and Millis 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%	23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Millis 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 U.S.: 35.7%	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average	$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,800±$37kLowest 23% below U.S.	$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S.
	Millis 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.	$9,344Highest 200% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Millis 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%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 133 in ME	#63 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	Millis
High school in town	None in town	Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
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.