Compare towns
Perham vs Appleton vs Springfield vs Westmanland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perham has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Appleton has the youngest population (median age 49.2).
Springfield has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Westmanland has the oldest population (median age 60.5).
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 | Perham | Appleton | Springfield | Westmanland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 326 |
1,360Highest |
310 |
108Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53±12.9 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
60.5±12.6Highest 35% above ME |
| Westmanland and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
3.7%±25.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Perham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
36.1%±25.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Westmanland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±14Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Westmanland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$63,750±$26kHighest 15% below ME |
| Westmanland and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$122,500±$28k 59% below ME |
$222,900±$24k 25% below ME |
| Appleton and Westmanland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,641 46% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,827 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Westmanland 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.