Compare towns
Carmel vs Newfields vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($182k median).
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.
| Measure | Carmel | Newfields | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.2±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelsea 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Chelsea 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$85,471±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,373±$90 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carmel and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | — | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Newfields School District | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.