Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Ogunquit vs Benton vs Oxford
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Oxford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Ogunquit | Benton | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,134 |
1,379Lowest |
2,770 |
4,333Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
40.5±2.7 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.6%±4.9 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
19%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Benton 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
$58,571±$24kLowest 22% below ME |
| Ogunquit 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±$44k 9% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$194,200±$8k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208 6% below ME |
— | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$977±$506Lowest 14% below ME |
| Benton and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,993 about the ME average |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.3%±23.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Oxford 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 133 in ME | — | #85 of 133 in ME | #127 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | — | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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 | 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.