Compare towns
Minot vs Epping vs Mechanic Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Minot has the most homeowners (96%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mechanic Falls has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Minot | Epping | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,794Lowest |
7,430Highest |
3,134 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±6.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
39.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Minot and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mechanic Falls and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,655±$17k 18% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$69,914±$12kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Epping and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,900±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$270,900±$44kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,076±$208 24% below U.S. |
| Epping and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,602Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$2,993 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.8%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #78 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | #122 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | Epping School District | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.