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Dane vs Springfield

Next-door neighbors in Dane County. The biggest differences: rent (2× in Springfield) and bachelor’s degree+ (+25.8 pts in Springfield).

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Dane, WIOne of the healthiest townsDane County · 1,567 people
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Springfield, WIHomes around $692KDane County · 2,859 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

DaneOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 88%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Dane →
SpringfieldHomes around $692K
Housing$692K typical home104% above the WI typical home HealthHealthier than 93%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 89%of WI districts All about Springfield →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Rent2×
Rent runs higher in Springfield
Springfield $1,190Dane $584
Bachelor’s degree++25.8 pts
More adults in Springfield have a degree
Springfield 49.1%Dane 23.3%
Growth since 2010+12.8 pts
Springfield has grown faster since 2010
Springfield +7.1%Dane -5.7%
Kids under 18+12 pts
Dane has more kids
Dane 32.1%Springfield 20.1%
Jobs per worker2.5×
Springfield is more of a job hub
Springfield 0.59Dane 0.24
Street grid2.1×
Springfield has the more walkable street grid
Springfield 4.8Dane 2.3
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,380 more a month in Springfield

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Dane$2,940/mo
Typical home $473K (Census) · tax rate 1.18% · or rent about $584/mo · Housing →
Springfield$4,320/mo
Typical home $692K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.20% · or rent about $1,190/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,380 a month, about $16,500 a year, between Springfield and Dane.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Where they are

Dane and Springfield share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

DaneSpringfieldDaneSpringfield
Dane ↔ Springfield5.5 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
–DaneNot graded ASpringfieldBetter than 89% of districts in the state
Health
ADaneHealthier than 88% of U.S. towns ASpringfieldHealthier than 93% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
DaneSpringfield
Snow a year39″39″
January low10°F10°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)169d169d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)10th15th
Outdoors & history
DaneSpringfield
Trails5 mi9 mi
Conserved land6.4%5.6%
National Register places—1
Archive photos126
Famous people born here1—
Community
DaneSpringfield
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

DaneSpringfield
People
Population 1,567Lowest 2,859Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.7%Lowest WI: +3.6% +7.1%Highest WI: +3.6%
Median age 40.7±6.9Lowest about the WI average 48.9±4.6Highest 22% above WI
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 32.1%±6.6Highest WI: 21.4% 20.1%±5.2Lowest WI: 21.4%
Age 65+ 16.8%±6.7Lowest WI: 18.5% 27.7%±5Highest WI: 18.5%
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.3%Lowest WI: 33.4% 49.1%Highest WI: 33.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.1%±3.1Highest WI: 5.8% 1.7%±1.2Lowest WI: 5.8%
Dane and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $95,156±$43kLowest 23% above WI $135,216±$20kHighest 75% above WI
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $472,500±$73kLowest 77% above WI $554,700±$45kHighest 108% above WI
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $584±$18Lowest 46% below WI $1,190±$281Highest 9% above WI
Property taxmedian, yearly $5,580Lowest 47% above WI $6,651Highest 75% above WI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 3.1%±11.1Lowest WI: 43.7% 8.7%±19.4Highest WI: 43.7%
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 1.6%Lowest WI: 10.6% 4.1%Highest WI: 10.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 71.1%Lowest WI: 67.8% 89.5%Highest WI: 67.8%
Typical home builtmedian year 1962Lowest 13 yrs older than WI 1978Highest 3 yrs newer than WI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minHighest 3% above WI 19 minLowest 14% below WI
Work from home 23.3%±18.3Lowest WI: 13.1% 27.2%±10.4Highest WI: 13.1%
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.8%Lowest 0.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.3 miHighest 9.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.24Lowest 0.59Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Madison (39%)Madison (47%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SpringfieldFew work in Dane
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 6.4%Highest 5.6%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 5.2 miLowest 8.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.3Lowest 4.8Highest
Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Dane neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dane’s Town Square.

Springfield neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Springfield’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Dane and Springfield

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Bordering Dane

+ Compare
Dane1,067 people · $350K homes
R
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Roxbury1,808 people · $461K homes
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Vienna1,385 people · $457K homes
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Lodi3,289 people · $442K homes

Towns like Dane

C
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Clarno1,147 people · $311K homes
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Port Washington1,591 people · $379K homes
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Poynette2,678 people · $297K homes
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Mazomanie1,694 people · $289K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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