Compare towns
Jefferson vs Lake Arrowhead vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Lake Arrowhead has the highest household income ($99k).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Lake Arrowhead | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647 |
3,322Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
26.9%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest 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%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.9% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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±$17k 14% above ME |
$98,654±$9kHighest 32% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below 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±$19k 10% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% 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 |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% ME: 10.7% |
2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
39 min 57% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Jefferson 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 | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.