What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).

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	Charleston	Springfield
People
Population	936Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Charleston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charleston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kLowest 28% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S.
	Springfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Charleston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Charleston and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Charleston School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.