What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rangeley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Winter Harbor has the most affordable homes ($211k 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.

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

Measure	Rangeley	Winter Harbor
People
Population	792Highest	493Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	64.3±3.2Lowest 44% above ME	64.6±5.5Highest 44% above ME
	Winter Harbor and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	3.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	5.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Winter Harbor and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	49.1%±10.3Highest ME: 22.4%	47.3%±18.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Rangeley and Winter Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	7.3%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Winter Harbor and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,243±$23kLowest 22% below ME	$86,250±$38kHighest 15% above ME
	Winter Harbor and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,700±$47kHighest 43% above ME	$210,500±$43kLowest 29% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$671±$119Lowest 41% below ME	$818±$433Highest 28% below ME
	Winter Harbor and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,482Highest 18% below ME	$1,422Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.6%±31.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.7%±37.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Winter Harbor and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	3.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	80.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 65% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	4.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	5.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Winter Harbor and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.