Compare towns
Lake Arrowhead vs Mapleton vs Jefferson
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Mapleton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,322Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest 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+ | 7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME |
| Lake Arrowhead and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above 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 | $2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Jefferson and Mapleton 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 57% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None 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.