Compare towns
Springfield vs Appleton vs Chapman
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 most affordable homes ($123k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Springfield | Appleton | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 310Lowest |
1,360Highest |
388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Springfield and Appleton 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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman 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%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
| Appleton and Chapman 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 | $1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest 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.