What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).

Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Jefferson	Springfield
People
Population	1,226Highest	952Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.9±5.2Highest 35% above NY	39.6±9.9Lowest about the NY average
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±6.2Highest NY: 17.9%	25.9%±8.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%	30.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,083±$9kHighest 22% below NY	$62,965±$9kLowest 27% below NY
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$186,900±$42kLowest 56% below NY	$239,100±$107kHighest 44% below NY
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$773±$129 52% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,602Highest 45% below NY	$3,000Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	21.6%±56.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Lowest NY: 14%	20.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NY: 54.3%	81%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 3% below NY	30 minLowest 7% below NY
Work from home	23.6%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9%	13.3%±6.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Jefferson 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

NY 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.