Compare towns
Lake Arrowhead vs Appleton vs Waterboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lake Arrowhead has the youngest population (median age 33).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Waterboro has the most expensive homes ($297k median).
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 | Lake Arrowhead | Appleton | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,322 |
1,360Lowest |
8,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lake Arrowhead and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Waterboro 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 | $98,654±$9kHighest 32% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
| Lake Arrowhead and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$19k 10% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$297,000±$23kHighest about the ME average |
| Waterboro and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,200±$461 5% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,772 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 57% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 min 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Waterboro 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 | — | — | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.