Compare towns
Starks vs Carmel vs Blaine
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Blaine has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Starks | Carmel | Blaine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556Lowest |
2,941Highest |
706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
46.3±17Lowest 3% above ME |
| Starks and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Blaine and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±7.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Starks and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Blaine and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
$80,707±$24k 8% above ME |
| Carmel and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
— |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$691±$303Lowest 39% below ME |
| Carmel and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,662Highest 12% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.