What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).

Mechanic Falls 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Exeter	Mechanic Falls
People
Population	1,093Lowest	3,134Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME	39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME
Kids under 18	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%	16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%	15.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter 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	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME	$69,914±$12kLowest 6% below ME
	Exeter and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME	$270,900±$44kHighest 9% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME	$1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME
	Mechanic Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME	$2,993Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mechanic Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 43% above ME	26 minLowest 5% above ME
Work from home	10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%	7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Mechanic Falls 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

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.