Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Prospect vs Minot
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).
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Prospect | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134Highest |
923Lowest |
2,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
49±6.1Highest 9% above ME |
| Minot and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Minot and Prospect 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% ME: 36.2% |
25.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot 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 |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
| Minot and Prospect 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 |
$196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME |
$294,900±$26kHighest about the ME average |
| Minot 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±$208 6% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| 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 |
$2,602 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Mechanic Falls and Minot 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1994 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Minot 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 | — | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | — | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.