Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Sumner 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 the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sumner | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134Highest |
845Lowest |
2,770 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Benton 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±$12kHighest 6% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Benton 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$176,700±$23k 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208Lowest 6% below ME |
— | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
| Benton 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Benton 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 | — | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 10 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None 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.