What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).

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	Troy
People
Population	2,941Highest	984Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Lowest 4% above ME	49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME
	Troy and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.7%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Troy 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%	27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Troy 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	$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME	$213,000±$31kLowest 28% below ME
	Carmel and Troy 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	$1,255±$211Lowest 10% above ME
	Carmel and Troy 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	$1,752Lowest 42% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	53.2%±44.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Troy 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%	17.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1991Lowest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	50 minHighest 102% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	RSU 03/MSAD 03
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.