Compare towns
Palmyra vs Appleton 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
Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mechanic Falls has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Palmyra | Appleton | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,209 |
1,360Lowest |
3,134Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
39.8±4.7 11% below ME |
| Appleton and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Palmyra and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$69,914±$12kHighest 6% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$270,900±$44kHighest 9% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,076±$208 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,993 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton 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 |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 16 |
| High school 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.