Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Ogunquit vs Poland 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 the youngest population (median age 39.8).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Poland | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,134 |
1,379Lowest |
5,954Highest |
1,991 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9% ME: +2.6% |
+0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
42.9±4.4 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,914±$12k 6% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
$46,384±$19kLowest 38% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Poland 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 |
$283,600±$44k 4% below ME |
$244,300±$54kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME |
— | $1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME |
| Poland 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 |
$2,774 9% below ME |
$2,676Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Mechanic Falls 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% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
69.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Poland 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 | — | #81 of 133 in ME | #122 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | — | RSU 16 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Poland Regional H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.