Compare towns
Waterboro vs Windham vs Mapleton vs Lake Arrowhead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterboro has the oldest population (median age 42).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lake Arrowhead has the youngest population (median age 33).
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 | Waterboro | Windham | Mapleton | Lake Arrowhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,055 |
19,188Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,322 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42±3.1Highest 6% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
| Waterboro and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
26.9%±5.8Highest 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+ | 14.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$98,654±$9k 32% above ME |
| Windham and Lake Arrowhead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $297,000±$23k about the ME average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$267,300±$19k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$461 5% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,772 9% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterboro and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 42% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 10%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #80 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 14 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | Massabesic High School | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.