What stands out worked out from the figures below

Longmeadow has the most people working from home (24.7%).

Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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	Longmeadow	Springfield
People
Population	15,696Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.7Highest 12% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	24.8%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Longmeadow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Springfield and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$149,601±$24kHighest 44% above MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$454,100±$20kHighest 19% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,682±$423Highest 5% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,236Highest 54% above MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Longmeadow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 15% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	24.7%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#51 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Longmeadow	Springfield
High school in town	Longmeadow High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.