Compare towns
Lincoln vs Springfield vs Norway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Springfield has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Norway has the most expensive homes ($216k 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 | Lincoln | Springfield | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,890 |
310Lowest |
5,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±3.4Highest 17% above ME |
52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
49.5±4.9Lowest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Springfield and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Lincoln and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Norway and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,089±$15k 25% below ME |
$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME |
$54,342±$17kLowest 27% below ME |
| Springfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,500±$40k 52% below ME |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$215,800±$29kHighest 27% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$28Lowest 42% below ME |
— | $770±$66Highest 32% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,860 39% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$2,057Highest 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±34.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 48.7%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 21% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norway and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #94 of 133 in ME | — | #79 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 |
| High school in town | Mattanawcook Academy | — | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.