What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).

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	Groton	Springfield
People
Population	967Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Groton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,250±$14kLowest 4% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S.	$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Groton 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.