What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Carmel	Surry
People
Population	2,941Highest	1,836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME	52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME
	Surry 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%	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Surry 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%	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Surry 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±$22kHighest 10% above ME	$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average
	Carmel and Surry 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	$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average
	Surry and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME
	Carmel and Surry 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	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Surry 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 ME: 10.7%	7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Surry 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	—
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.