Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Exeter
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k 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.
| Measure | Mechanic Falls | Exeter |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,134Highest |
1,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter 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±$12kLowest 6% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mechanic Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 5% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter 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 16 | — |
| 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.