Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Saco 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 most kids (24.1% under 18).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Minot has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Saco | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134 |
20,819Highest |
2,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
49±6.1Highest 9% above ME |
| Minot and Saco 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%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Minot and Saco 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% |
25.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Minot 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±$11k 23% above ME |
$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
| Minot and Saco 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 |
$294,900±$26k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208 6% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$878±$801Lowest 23% below 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 | $2,993 about the ME average |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 5% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Minot 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.