Compare towns
Carmel vs Rye vs Milford
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($176k 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 | Rye | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941Lowest |
5,611Highest |
3,095 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 19% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.3±6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5.6Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milford 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$85,111±$26k 5% above U.S. |
| Rye and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$176,400±$48kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 10% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$943±$57Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$1,962Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carmel and Milford 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #75 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Rye School District | Milford Public Schools |
| 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.