Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Readfield vs Benton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Readfield | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134Highest |
2,651Lowest |
2,770 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
48.1±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
| Readfield and Benton 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% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Benton 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% |
22.3%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Readfield and Benton 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Readfield and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,914±$12k 6% below ME |
$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
| Readfield 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±$44k 9% below ME |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
| Readfield 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 |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$1,110±$123 about the ME average |
| Readfield and Benton 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 |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 38 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.