Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Springfield vs Dane

Next-door neighbors in Dane County. The biggest differences: rent (2× in Springfield) and bachelor’s degree+ (+25.8 pts in Springfield).

×
Springfield, WIHomes around $692KDane County · 2,859 people
×
Dane, WIOne of the healthiest townsDane County · 1,567 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

SpringfieldHomes around $692K
Housing$692K typical home104% above the WI typical home HealthHealthier than 93%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 89%of WI districts All about Springfield →
DaneOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 88%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Dane →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Rent2×
Rent runs higher in Springfield
Springfield $1,190Dane $584
Bachelor’s degree++25.8 pts
More adults in Springfield have a degree
Springfield 49.1%Dane 23.3%
Growth since 2010+12.8 pts
Springfield has grown faster since 2010
Springfield +7.1%Dane -5.7%
Kids under 18+12 pts
Dane has more kids
Dane 32.1%Springfield 20.1%
Jobs per worker2.5×
Springfield is more of a job hub
Springfield 0.59Dane 0.24
Street grid2.1×
Springfield has the more walkable street grid
Springfield 4.8Dane 2.3
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,380 more a month in Springfield

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Springfield$4,320/mo
Typical home $692K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.20% · or rent about $1,190/mo · Housing →
Dane$2,940/mo
Typical home $473K (Census) · tax rate 1.18% · or rent about $584/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,380 a month, about $16,500 a year, between Springfield and Dane.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Where they are

Springfield and Dane share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SpringfieldDaneSpringfieldDane
Springfield ↔ Dane5.5 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
ASpringfieldBetter than 89% of districts in the state –DaneNot graded
Health
ASpringfieldHealthier than 93% of U.S. towns ADaneHealthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
SpringfieldDane
Snow a year39″39″
January low10°F10°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)169d169d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)15th10th
Outdoors & history
SpringfieldDane
Trails9 mi5 mi
Conserved land5.6%6.4%
National Register places1—
Archive photos612
Famous people born here—1
Community
SpringfieldDane
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

SpringfieldDane
People
Population 2,859Highest 1,567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.1%Highest WI: +3.6% -5.7%Lowest WI: +3.6%
Median age 48.9±4.6Highest 22% above WI 40.7±6.9Lowest about the WI average
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.1%±5.2Lowest WI: 21.4% 32.1%±6.6Highest WI: 21.4%
Age 65+ 27.7%±5Highest WI: 18.5% 16.8%±6.7Lowest WI: 18.5%
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 49.1%Highest WI: 33.4% 23.3%Lowest WI: 33.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.7%±1.2Lowest WI: 5.8% 5.1%±3.1Highest WI: 5.8%
Dane and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $135,216±$20kHighest 75% above WI $95,156±$43kLowest 23% above WI
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $554,700±$45kHighest 108% above WI $472,500±$73kLowest 77% above WI
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,190±$281Highest 9% above WI $584±$18Lowest 46% below WI
Property taxmedian, yearly $6,651Highest 75% above WI $5,580Lowest 47% above WI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 8.7%±19.4Highest WI: 43.7% 3.1%±11.1Lowest WI: 43.7%
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 4.1%Highest WI: 10.6% 1.6%Lowest WI: 10.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 89.5%Highest WI: 67.8% 71.1%Lowest WI: 67.8%
Typical home builtmedian year 1978Highest 3 yrs newer than WI 1962Lowest 13 yrs older than WI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 19 minLowest 14% below WI 23 minHighest 3% above WI
Work from home 27.2%±10.4Highest WI: 13.1% 23.3%±18.3Lowest WI: 13.1%
Springfield and Dane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.9%Highest 0.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.8 miLowest 14.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.59Highest 0.24Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Madison (47%)Madison (39%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in DaneFew work in Springfield
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 5.6%Lowest 6.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 8.8 miHighest 5.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 4.8Highest 2.3Lowest
Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Springfield neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Springfield’s Town Square.

Dane neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dane’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Springfield and Dane

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Springfield

+ Compare
Middleton22,301 people · $484K homes
+ Compare
Berry1,122 people · $456K homes
+ Compare
Middleton6,807 people · $689K homes
W
+ Compare
Westport4,213 people · $419K homes

Towns like Springfield

+ Compare
West Point2,229 people · $533K homes
L
+ Compare
Linn2,710 people · $537K homes
+ Compare
Oregon3,040 people · $456K homes
+ Compare
Lake Mills2,317 people · $454K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Post to Springfield

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in