What stands out worked out from the figures below

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).

Springfield has the most kids (15.1% under 18).

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	Devens	Springfield
People
Population	1,723Highest	1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Devens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S.	$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S.	$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S.	$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Devens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Devens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Devens and Springfield 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.