What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lake Arrowhead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Waterboro has the most people working from home (10%).

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	Waterboro
People
Population	3,322Lowest	8,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME	42±3.1Highest 6% below ME
Kids under 18	26.9%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%	22.5%±4Lowest 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%	14.8%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest 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	$89,392±$16kLowest 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±$19kLowest 10% 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	$1,200±$461Lowest 5% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,286Lowest 25% below ME	$2,772Highest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 57% above ME	35 minLowest 42% above ME
Work from home	6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%	10%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Waterboro and Lake Arrowhead 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	—	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	—	Massabesic High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.