What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mechanic Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

Prospect has the most affordable homes ($197k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mechanic Falls	Prospect
People
Population	3,134Highest	923Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME	45.2±7.5Highest about the ME average
	Prospect 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%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Prospect 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%	19.8%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Prospect 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%	22.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mechanic Falls and Prospect 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	$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME
	Prospect 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±$44kHighest 9% below ME	$196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME	$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average
	Prospect 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	$1,979Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4%	31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Mechanic Falls and Prospect 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%	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 5% above ME	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	7.9%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9%	6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mechanic Falls and Prospect 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	—
School district	RSU 16	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.