What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).

Springfield has the most people working from home (9.6%).

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	Danforth	Springfield
People
Population	666Highest	310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME	52.4±7Lowest 17% above ME
	Danforth and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Springfield and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%	21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Danforth and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	17.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Danforth and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME	$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME
	Springfield and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME	$122,500±$28kHighest 59% below ME
	Springfield and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$29 45% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,270Highest 58% below ME	$1,067Lowest 65% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987 10 yrs newer than ME	1987 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 15% above ME	30 minHighest 21% above ME
Work from home	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.6%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Springfield and Danforth 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

ME 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.