What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mechanic Falls has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).

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	Poland
People
Population	3,134Lowest	5,954Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME	44.2±9.4Highest about the ME average
	Poland 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%	21.4%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mechanic Falls and Poland 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%	17.8%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Poland 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%	23.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Poland 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	$85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME
	Poland 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	$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME
	Poland 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	$1,198±$128Highest 5% above 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	$2,993Highest about the ME average	$2,774Lowest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	61.6%±30.7Highest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 5% above ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Poland 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	#81 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

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.