What stands out worked out from the figures below

Knox has the most expensive homes ($160k median).

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	Knox	Springfield
People
Population	825Highest	310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME	52.4±7Highest 17% above ME
	Springfield and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Springfield and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.6%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Springfield and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Highest ME: 36.2%	17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Knox and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,821±$9kHighest 13% below ME	$60,833±$23kLowest 19% below ME
	Knox and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$159,600±$26kHighest 46% below ME	$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME
	Knox and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$47 21% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,610Highest 47% below ME	$1,067Lowest 65% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.3%±31.5 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	30 minLowest 21% above ME
Work from home	12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9%	9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Knox 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.