What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k median).

Springfield has the most kids (15.1% 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	Middlefield	Springfield
People
Population	352Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Middlefield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlefield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlefield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S.	$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Middlefield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Springfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S.	$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Middlefield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,926Lowest 58% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middlefield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Middlefield 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.