What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lake Arrowhead has the youngest population (median age 33).

Monroe has the most people working from home (11.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lake Arrowhead	Monroe
People
Population	3,322Highest	1,001Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME	43.5±7Highest about the ME average
Kids under 18	26.9%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%	23.7%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lake Arrowhead and Monroe 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%	22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	29.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Monroe 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	$81,300±$7kLowest 9% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$19kHighest 10% below ME	$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME
	Lake Arrowhead and Monroe 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	$1,165±$152Lowest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,286Highest 25% below ME	$2,207Lowest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Monroe and Lake Arrowhead 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%	11.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME	1992Lowest 15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 57% above ME	32 minLowest 28% above ME
Work from home	6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Monroe and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.