Compare towns
Poland vs Mapleton 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
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Mapleton | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,134 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
| Poland and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Poland 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 14% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$69,914±$12kLowest 6% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$270,900±$44k 9% below ME |
| Poland and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,076±$208 6% below ME |
| Poland and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774 9% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,993Highest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Mapleton 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 | — | #122 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
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.