What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mechanic Falls has the most expensive homes ($244k median).

Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Mexico
People
Population	1,991Lowest	2,782Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.9±4.4Lowest 4% below ME	43.4±2.8Highest 3% below ME
	Mexico 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%±8.2Highest ME: 18.1%	19.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mechanic Falls and Mexico 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%	20.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mexico 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	13%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$46,384±$19kLowest 38% below ME	$55,727±$9kHighest 25% below ME
	Mexico 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	$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME	$1,027±$275Lowest 10% below ME
	Mechanic Falls and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,676Highest 12% below ME	$1,961Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mexico and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	77%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME	1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	24 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	6.4%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9%	5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mechanic Falls and Mexico 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	#130 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10
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.