Compare towns
Carmel vs Williston vs Parsonsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Williston | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
10,144Highest |
1,715Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Parsonsfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Parsonsfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$22k about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$72,045±$18kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Williston 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 23% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$272,100±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 10% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,185±$312Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.2%±35Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Parsonsfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.