Compare towns
Lake Arrowhead vs Mapleton vs Wayne vs Wales
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Wales has the most kids (30.2% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,322Highest |
1,884 |
1,101Lowest |
1,924 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
35.1±4.2 22% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wales 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
11%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±3.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Wales 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 |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$77,004±$5kLowest 3% above ME |
| Lake Arrowhead and Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$250,400±$28k 16% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,154±$64 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,578 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wales and Wayne 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% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 57% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±13.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 38 | RSU 04 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Oak Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.