What stands out worked out from the figures below

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

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	Patten	Springfield
People
Population	1,154Highest	310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.4% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME	52.4±7Lowest 17% above ME
	Patten and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Springfield and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Patten and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME	$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME
	Springfield and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$127,600±$49kHighest 57% below ME	$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME
	Patten and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$389±$99 66% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,199Highest 61% below ME	$1,067Lowest 65% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56%±64.1 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	30 minHighest 21% above ME
Work from home	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%	9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Patten 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.