Compare towns
Mechanic Falls vs Wayne vs Warren
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).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Wayne | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,134 |
1,101Lowest |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±6 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Warren 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Warren 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$232,700±$32kLowest 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$208 6% below ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,125±$456Highest about the ME average |
| Warren 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Warren 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Warren 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 | — | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 38 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.