What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Longmeadow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).

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	East Longmeadow	Springfield
People
Population	16,425Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.2Highest 9% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Springfield and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Springfield and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,676±$11kHighest about the MA average	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,800±$17kHighest 33% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,337±$236Highest 24% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
	East Longmeadow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,662Highest 11% above MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 22% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	15.5%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#148 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	East Longmeadow	Springfield
High school in town	East Longmeadow High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.