Compare towns
Carmel vs Solon vs Hermon
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).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Solon | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
963Lowest |
6,727Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
| Carmel and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hermon and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Hermon 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% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hermon 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 |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
$96,629±$22kHighest 29% above ME |
| Hermon 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 |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$333,600±$32kHighest 12% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 12% above ME |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
| Hermon and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 12% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,761Highest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Hermon 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996 19 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Solon and Hermon 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 | — | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6 |
| 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.