Compare towns
Minot vs Saco vs Mechanic Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Minot has the most homeowners (96%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,794Lowest |
20,819Highest |
3,134 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49±6.1Highest 9% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
| Minot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1Highest 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+ | 21.3%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6Lowest 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+ | 25.9% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest 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 | $95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$69,914±$12kLowest 6% below 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 | $294,900±$26k about the ME average |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$270,900±$44kLowest 9% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,076±$208 6% 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 | $2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,993 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9 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 | 6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
26 minHighest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | #78 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #122 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.