What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Mechanic Falls has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Jefferson	Mechanic Falls
People
Population	2,647Lowest	3,134Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME	39.8±4.7Highest 11% below ME
	Mechanic Falls and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	24.1%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jefferson and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%	16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Jefferson 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+	27.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson 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	$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME	$69,914±$12kLowest 6% below ME
	Jefferson and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME	$270,900±$44kLowest 9% below ME
	Jefferson and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average	$1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME
	Jefferson and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,587Lowest 15% below ME	$2,993Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mechanic Falls and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	26 minLowest 5% above ME
Work from home	8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%	7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Jefferson 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	#45 of 133 in ME	#122 of 133 in ME
School district	Jefferson Public Schools	RSU 16
High school in town	None 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.