Compare towns
Jefferson vs Lake Arrowhead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Lake Arrowhead has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Jefferson | Lake Arrowhead |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,647Lowest |
3,322Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Highest 15% below ME |
33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
| Jefferson and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
26.9%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME |
$98,654±$9kHighest 32% above ME |
| Lake Arrowhead and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$267,300±$19kLowest 10% below ME |
| Jefferson and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Jefferson and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Lake Arrowhead 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.