What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).

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	Naples
People
Population	2,941Lowest	3,985Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME	49.8±6.8Highest 11% above ME
	Naples 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%	15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Naples 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%	23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Naples 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%	37.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Naples 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	$78,188±$13kLowest 5% above ME
	Carmel and Naples 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	$340,100±$48kHighest 15% above ME
	Naples 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	$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME
	Naples and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,662Lowest 12% below ME	$2,784Highest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Naples 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 ME: 10.7%	9.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	38 minHighest 56% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.7%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 133 in ME	#118 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	RSU 61/MSAD 61
High school in town	None in town	Lake Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
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.