What stands out worked out from the figures below

Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).

Springfield has the most kids (18.1% 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	Embden	Springfield
People
Population	995Highest	310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME	52.4±7Lowest 17% above ME
	Embden and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Springfield and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4%	21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	17.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±3.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Springfield and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME	$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME
	Springfield and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME	$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME
	Embden and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,804Highest 41% below ME	$1,067Lowest 65% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	96.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 34% above ME	30 minLowest 21% above ME
Work from home	18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Embden 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

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.