Compare towns
Carmel vs Unity vs Milford
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 most expensive homes ($257k median).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
1,858Lowest |
3,095Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.3±6 3% below ME |
| Carmel and Milford 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Carmel and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Milford 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% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$85,111±$26kHighest 14% above ME |
| Milford 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±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$176,400±$48kLowest 41% below ME |
| Carmel and Unity 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$943±$57 17% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662Highest 12% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.6%±48.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Milford 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 | — | #75 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Milford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.