Compare towns
Palmyra vs Perham 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 kids (29.2% under 18).
Perham has the oldest population (median age 53).
Mechanic Falls has the most expensive homes ($271k 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 | Palmyra | Perham | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,209 |
326Lowest |
3,134Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
39.8±4.7 11% below ME |
| Perham 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% |
19.6%±8.5Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Palmyra and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$69,914±$12kHighest 6% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$34k 48% below ME |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$270,900±$44kHighest 9% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
— | $1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,641 46% below ME |
$2,993Highest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
26 minHighest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Perham 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 | — | — | RSU 16 |
| High school 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.