What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Jackson	Springfield
People
Population	567Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 3% below U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jackson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,167±$19kLowest 7% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$231,500±$16kLowest 30% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S.	$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Lowest 15% below U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Jackson 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.