Compare towns

Springfield vs Appleton vs Burlington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the highest household income ($61k).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Burlington has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldAppletonBurlington
People
Population
310Lowest
1,360Highest
328
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
52.4±7
17% above ME
49.2±7.4Lowest
10% above ME
52.5±22.8Highest
17% above ME
Burlington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.1%±5.6
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
24.1%±9.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
Burlington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
24.7%±7.2
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
17.3%
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
10.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±3.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.2%±3.8
ME: 5.8%
Appleton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$60,833±$23kHighest
19% below ME
$53,618±$19k
28% below ME
$48,750±$14kLowest
35% 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
$122,500±$28k
59% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
$99,700±$21kLowest
66% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,067
65% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$582Lowest
81% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
85.4%±100
ME: 48.4%
—
Below poverty line
5.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
19.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
93.2%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
10 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1980Lowest
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
21% above ME
30 min
23% above ME
39 minHighest
60% above ME
Work from home
9.6%±5.2
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
5.1%±6.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Springfield 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

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.