Compare towns
Kent vs Elma vs Carmel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kent has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Elma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Carmel has the most expensive homes ($495k 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.
| Measure | Kent | Elma | Carmel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,896 |
11,687Lowest |
33,837Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.4±1.4Lowest 9% above NY |
43.8±4.6 10% above NY |
44.3±1.5Highest 11% above NY |
| Carmel and Elma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Elma and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.8%±1.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Elma and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
44%Highest NY: 40.2% |
43.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
6.8%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Carmel and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,012±$13k 50% above NY |
$116,460±$12kLowest 35% above NY |
$131,835±$10kHighest 53% above NY |
| Carmel and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,100±$15k 8% below NY |
$357,900±$27kLowest 16% below NY |
$495,100±$17kHighest 17% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,606±$224 about the NY average |
$952±$472Lowest 41% below NY |
$1,683±$148Highest 4% above NY |
| Carmel and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,796 49% above NY |
$4,999Lowest 24% below NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.8%±49.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.9%±17Lowest NY: 52.1% |
68.1%±27.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Kent and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest NY: 14% |
3.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NY: 54.3% |
88.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 2 yrs newer than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 min 20% above NY |
22 minLowest 31% below NY |
41 minHighest 26% above NY |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
13.9%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Carmel and Elma 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 | #296 of 484 in NY | #90 of 484 in NY | #61 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · MAHOPAC CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.