Compare towns
Carmel vs Sidney vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($229k 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 | Sidney | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
4,790Highest |
2,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
| Carmel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sidney 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% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Windsor 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 10% above ME |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$63,178±$5kLowest 15% below ME |
| Sidney 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±$37k 13% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$228,800±$22kLowest 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 12% above ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,265±$400Lowest 11% above ME |
| Sidney and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662Highest 12% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Windsor 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney and Carmel 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 18 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.