Compare towns
Chapman vs Mechanic Falls vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering ChapmanMapleton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
Mechanic Falls has the most people working from home (7.9%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Chapman | Mechanic Falls | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 388Lowest |
3,134Highest |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
| Starks and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$69,914±$12k 6% below ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
| Chapman and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$270,900±$44kHighest 9% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME |
$1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 39% below ME |
$2,993Highest about the ME average |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mechanic Falls and Chapman 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 | — | #122 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 16 | — |
| 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.