What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Winter Harbor	Rangeley
People
Population	493Lowest	792Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	64.6±5.5Highest 44% above ME	64.3±3.2Lowest 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	5.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	3.9%±4.3Lowest 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+	47.3%±18.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	49.1%±10.3Highest 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+	31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	33.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.3%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8%	0%±2Lowest 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	$86,250±$38kHighest 15% above ME	$58,243±$23kLowest 22% below 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	$210,500±$43kLowest 29% below ME	$424,700±$47kHighest 43% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$433Highest 28% below ME	$671±$119Lowest 41% 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	$1,422Lowest 53% below ME	$2,482Highest 18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±37.2Highest ME: 48.4%	62.6%±31.2Lowest 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	3.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	1.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	41 minHighest 65% above ME
Work from home	5.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%	4.1%±3.8Lowest 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.