Compare towns
Perham vs Springfield vs Starks vs Wade
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).
Springfield has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Starks has the youngest population (median age 46.7).
Wade has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Springfield | Starks | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 326 |
310 |
556Highest |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -7.3% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53±12.9 18% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
| Wade 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% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Perham 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% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Perham and Starks 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 |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
| Starks 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 |
$122,500±$28k 59% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$157,100±$109kHighest 47% below ME |
| Wade and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,641 46% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,348 56% below ME |
$1,655Highest 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
— | 45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 21% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wade and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.