What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).

Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).

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	Parsonsfield	Springfield
People
Population	1,715Highest	1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Parsonsfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Parsonsfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,045±$18kLowest 11% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$21kLowest 18% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,185±$312Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Parsonsfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.2%±35Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Parsonsfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 83% above U.S.	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Parsonsfield 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.