Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Exeter vs Mechanic Falls
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Mechanic Falls has the most renters (30.6% rent).
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 | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,991 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
42.9±4.4 4% below ME |
| Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±8.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±6 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±5.6Lowest 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% |
15.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest 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±$12k 6% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$46,384±$19kLowest 38% below 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 |
$244,300±$54k 18% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,993Highest about the ME average |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,676 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
69.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±8.5Lowest 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 | — | #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 | 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.