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Springfield vs Linn

69 miles apart. The biggest differences: seasonal homes (+42.6 pts in Linn) and trails (2.5× in Linn).

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Springfield, WIHomes around $692KDane County · 2,859 people

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Linn, WIHomes around $766KWalworth County · 2,710 people

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 →

LinnHomes around $766K

Housing$766K typical home126% above the WI typical home Schools#18 for schools in WIof 262 towns HealthHealthier than 65%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Linn →

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.

Seasonal homes+42.6 pts

Linn has more second homes

Linn 42.6%Springfield 0%

Linn has more miles of trail

Linn 22.4 miSpringfield 8.8 mi

Household income+36%

Households in Springfield earn more

Springfield $135,216Linn $99,205

Property tax bill+37%

Tax bills are bigger in Springfield

Springfield $6,651Linn $4,849

Linn has the more walkable street grid

Linn 9.4Springfield 4.8

Average commute8 min

Springfield has the shorter commute

Linn 27 minSpringfield 19 min

★ What stands out · Report cards

Springfield places higher on 11 of 17 WI lists

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.

Safety

–SpringfieldNot graded ALinnSafer than 88% of U.S. towns

Schools

ASpringfieldBetter than 89% of districts in the state BLinnBetter than 56% of districts in the state

Health

ASpringfieldHealthier than 93% of U.S. towns BLinnHealthier than 65% of U.S. towns

11Springfield

6Linn

Lists won, of 17 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Shortest commuteGetting around · 371 towns #87#304 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 366 towns #9#217 Lowest obesityHealth · 366 towns #20#213 Most conserved landOutdoors · 356 towns #139#326 HealthiestHealth · 366 towns #14#188 Lowest depressionHealth · 366 towns #178#10 Most trailsOutdoors · 301 towns #222#93 Most activeHealth · 366 towns #11#166

Left end = #1 in Wisconsin. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Springfield’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $270 more a month in Linn

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.

Down paymentRate%

Springfield$4,320/mo

Typical home $692K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.20% · or rent about $1,190/mo · Housing →

Linn$4,590/mo

Typical home $766K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.90% · or rent about $1,521/mo · Housing →

The difference: $270 a month, about $3,300 a year, between Linn and Springfield.

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.

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

SpringfieldLinn

Snow a year39″32″

January low10°F —

July high82°F —

Growing season (days)169d —

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)15th 21st

Outdoors & history

SpringfieldLinn

Trails9 mi 22 mi

Conserved land5.6%0.6%

Settled1848 —

National Register places1 4

Archive photos12 6

Famous people born here—1

Community

SpringfieldLinn

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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.

Where they are

69 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SpringfieldDane County LinnWalworth County

Springfield ↔ Linn69 miles apart

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.

Only big differences vs Wisconsin average

SpringfieldLinn

People

Population 2,859Highest 2,710Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.1%Lowest WI: +3.6% +12.8%Highest WI: +3.6%

Median age 48.9±4.6Lowest 22% above WI 50.4±5.6Highest 25% above WI

Linn and Springfield 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% 20.2%±4.1Highest WI: 21.4%

Linn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 27.7%±5Highest WI: 18.5% 26.8%±3.2Lowest WI: 18.5%

Springfield and Linn 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% 46.4%Lowest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.7%±1.2Lowest WI: 5.8% 2%±0.8Highest WI: 5.8%

Linn 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 $99,205±$13kLowest 28% above WI

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $554,700±$45kHighest 108% above WI $537,100±$70kLowest 102% above WI

Springfield and Linn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,190±$281Lowest 9% above WI $1,521±$632Highest 40% above WI

Linn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $6,651Highest 75% above WI $4,849Lowest 28% above WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 8.7%±19.4Lowest WI: 43.7% 21.5%±14.7Highest WI: 43.7%

Linn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 4.1%Lowest WI: 10.6% 5.7%Highest WI: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 89.5%Highest WI: 67.8% 84.4%Lowest WI: 67.8%

Typical home builtmedian year 1978Highest 3 yrs newer than WI 1970Lowest 5 yrs older than WI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 19 minLowest 14% below WI 27 minHighest 20% above WI

Work from home 27.2%±10.4Highest WI: 13.1% 18.6%±3.9Lowest WI: 13.1%

Springfield and Linn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0.9%Lowest 3%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.8 miLowest 18.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.59Highest 0.48Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Madison (47%)Lake Geneva (10%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in LinnFew work in Springfield

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 5.6%Highest 0.6%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 8.8 miLowest 22.4 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 0.7 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3 3

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 4.8Lowest 9.4Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#18 of 262 in WI

School district —Linn J4 School District · Linn J6 School District

High school in town —None in town

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.

Linn neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Linn’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Springfield and Linn

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

Bordering Springfield

Middleton22,301 people · $484K homes

Berry1,122 people · $456K homes

Middleton6,807 people · $689K homes

Dane1,567 people · $473K homes

Towns like Springfield

West Point2,229 people · $533K homes

Oregon3,040 people · $456K homes

Lake Mills2,317 people · $454K homes

St. Joseph4,292 people · $510K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Wisconsin towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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.