Compare towns
Carmel vs Rye vs Parsonsfield
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
5,611Highest |
1,715Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5 19% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Parsonsfield and Carmel 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% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rye 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±$22k about the U.S. average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$72,045±$18kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rye and Carmel 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$272,100±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 10% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,185±$312Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.2%±35Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Parsonsfield 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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.