Compare towns
Poland vs Wayne 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%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Wayne | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954Highest |
1,101Lowest |
3,134 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
| Wayne and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$69,914±$12kLowest 6% below ME |
| Wayne 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 4% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$270,900±$44kLowest 9% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% 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 | $2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,993 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #122 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 38 | 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 Our Story | 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.