Compare towns
Poland vs Lancaster 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
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
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 | Poland | Lancaster | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954 |
8,606Highest |
3,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
39.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Poland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mechanic Falls and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Poland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,557±$23k 6% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$69,914±$12kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,600±$44k 15% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$270,900±$44kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,076±$208Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$2,993 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Poland 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 | #81 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #122 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | Nashoba | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | Poland Regional H S | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.