What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mechanic Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k 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.

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

Measure	Mechanic Falls	Benton
People
Population	3,134Highest	2,770Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME	42.8±6Highest 4% below ME
	Benton and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mechanic Falls and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%	21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Benton 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+	15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Benton 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	$69,914±$12kHighest 6% below ME	$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME
	Mechanic Falls and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$270,900±$44kHighest 9% below ME	$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME	$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average
	Benton and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,993Highest about the ME average	$1,758Lowest 42% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Benton and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 3 yrs newer than ME	1980 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 5% above ME	20 minLowest 21% below ME
Work from home	7.9%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mechanic Falls and Benton 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	#85 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 16	RSU 49/MSAD 49
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.