Compare towns
Lee vs Appleton vs Springfield vs Garland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Garland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Lee | Appleton | Springfield | Garland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,360Highest |
310Lowest |
823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
53.5±4.3Highest 19% above ME |
| Garland and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±4.3 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+ | 24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.2%±4.3 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+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.1 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 | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME |
$51,094±$12k 32% 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 | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
| Appleton and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $794±$248Lowest 30% below ME |
| Appleton and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,536 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 46.7%±46.1Lowest 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 | 19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest 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 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.