Compare towns
Springfield vs Appleton vs Perham
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 homeowners (96.2%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Perham has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Perham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 310Lowest |
1,360Highest |
326 |
| 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 |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
| Perham 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% |
19.6%±8.5Highest 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+ | 21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Perham 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% |
18.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Perham 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 |
$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME |
| Perham 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±$28k 59% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,641 46% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±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 | 5.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Lowest 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.