What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Clay	Springfield
People
Population	59,995Highest	9,084Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.8±1Lowest about the U.S. average	43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S.
	Springfield and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Clay and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,707±$6kHighest 12% above U.S.	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,900±$6kHighest 38% below U.S.	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.
	Clay and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$40Highest 12% below U.S.	$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,087Highest 63% above U.S.	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#249 of 484 in NY	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Lowest	14.3Highest
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.