What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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.

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

Measure	Carmel	Starks
People
Population	2,941Highest	556Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME	46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME
	Starks and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Starks 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%	20.3%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Starks 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%	21%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Carmel and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME	$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME
	Carmel and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME	$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME	$1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME
	Carmel and Starks 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	$1,348Lowest 56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±90.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9%	3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Carmel and Starks 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	—
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.