What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mechanic Falls has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Saco
People
Population	3,134Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME	44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average
	Saco 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%	16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mechanic Falls and Saco 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%	18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Saco 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%	43.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Saco 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	$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME
	Saco 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±$44kLowest 9% below ME	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME	$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME
	Saco and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,993Lowest about the ME average	$4,807Highest 58% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4%
	Saco 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%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 5% above ME	24 minLowest 3% below ME
Work from home	7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#122 of 133 in ME	#38 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 16	Saco Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.