Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Benton vs Levant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mechanic Falls has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Levant has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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.
| Measure | Mechanic Falls | Benton | Levant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134Highest |
2,770Lowest |
3,069 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7 11% below ME |
42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
39.7±2.2Lowest 11% 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%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±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% |
18.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Levant 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% ME: 36.2% |
21.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Benton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,914±$12k 6% below ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME |
| Levant and Mechanic Falls 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 |
$268,500±$27k 9% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME |
$1,110±$123 about the ME average |
$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,993Highest about the ME average |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Mechanic Falls and Levant 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 | #124 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.