Compare towns
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
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Mechanic Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Wayne | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
3,134Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 | $93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$69,914±$12kLowest 6% below ME |
| Wayne and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$270,900±$44kLowest 9% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,993Lowest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mechanic Falls and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #122 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.