What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

South Berwick has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Carmel	South Berwick
People
Population	2,941Lowest	7,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Carmel and South Berwick 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%	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	South Berwick 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±$22kLowest 10% above ME	$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME
	South Berwick 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 13% below ME	$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Lowest 12% above ME	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,662Lowest 12% below ME	$4,956Highest 63% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	53.5%±24.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and South Berwick 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%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 133 in ME	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	None in town	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.