Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Ogunquit vs Jefferson
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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7 11% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Jefferson 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
| 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 | $2,993 about the ME average |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,587Lowest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 5% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | 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.