What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mechanic Falls has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Mechanic Falls	Jefferson
People
Population	3,134Highest	2,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.8±4.7Highest 11% below ME	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME
	Mechanic Falls and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Jefferson and Mechanic Falls 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%	18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Jefferson 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%	27.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson 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	$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME
	Jefferson 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±$44kLowest 9% below ME	$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME
	Jefferson 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±$208Lowest 6% below ME	$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average
	Jefferson 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	$2,587Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4%	29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Mechanic Falls and Jefferson 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%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 5% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jefferson 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	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 16	Jefferson Public Schools
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.