What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mechanic Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Mars Hill has the highest household income ($65k).

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	Mechanic Falls	Mars Hill
People
Population	1,991Highest	1,398Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.9±4.4Lowest 4% below ME	43.4±3Highest 3% below ME
	Mars Hill and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±8.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mars Hill and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mars Hill 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+	15.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	26%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mars Hill 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	$46,384±$19kLowest 38% below ME	$65,273±$9kHighest 13% below ME
	Mars Hill and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$244,300±$54kHighest 18% below ME	$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME	$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,676Highest 12% below ME	$1,843Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4%	30.6%±7.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Mechanic Falls and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	70.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	6.4%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.9%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mars Hill 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 42/MSAD 42
High school in town	—	Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.0
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.