Compare towns
Prospect vs Mechanic Falls vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Mechanic Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Stetson has the most people working from home (11%).
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 | Prospect | Mechanic Falls | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 923Lowest |
3,134Highest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.2±7.5Highest about the ME average |
39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
| Prospect and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Prospect and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Stetson and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$69,914±$12kLowest 6% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Prospect and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME |
$270,900±$44kHighest 9% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$1,076±$208 6% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Prospect and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,979 35% below ME |
$2,993Highest about the ME average |
$1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 34% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Stetson 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.