Compare towns
Appleton vs Lee vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Lee | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
925 |
310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
| Springfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME |
| Springfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Appleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.