Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Poland vs Levant
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).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Levant has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Poland | Levant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134 |
5,954Highest |
3,069Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7 11% below ME |
44.2±9.4Highest about the ME average |
39.7±2.2Lowest 11% below ME |
| 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%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest 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%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Levant and Poland 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% |
21.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Poland and Levant 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±$23k 14% above ME |
$86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME |
| Levant 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 |
$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$268,500±$27kLowest 9% 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±$128 5% above ME |
$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
| Levant and Poland 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 |
$2,774 9% below ME |
$2,580Lowest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Levant 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% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 5% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6Lowest 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 | #124 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 16 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.