Compare towns
Carmel vs Ogunquit vs Rye
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 most affordable homes ($257k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rye has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Ogunquit | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
1,379Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Lowest 19% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Carmel and Rye 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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 |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carmel and Rye 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.