What stands out worked out from the figures below

Baltimore has the most affordable homes ($219k median).

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Baltimore	Springfield
People
Population	361Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.2±10.3Lowest 32% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Baltimore and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,500±$16kHighest 33% above U.S.	$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Baltimore and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,400±$27kLowest 34% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,096±$217 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,329Lowest 39% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Baltimore and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	9.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.