Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Poland vs Windham
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%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134Lowest |
5,954 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
44.2±9.4Highest about the ME average |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
| Poland and Windham 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% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest 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%±6 ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Poland and Windham 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 |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
| Windham 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±$44kLowest 9% below ME |
$283,600±$44k 4% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME |
$1,198±$128 5% above ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
| Windham and Poland 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 |
$2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 5% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 16 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.