What stands out worked out from the figures below

Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).

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	Proctor	Springfield
People
Population	1,586Highest	1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Proctor and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Proctor and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,060±$12kLowest 7% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,000±$20kLowest 38% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$200Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S.
	Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.4%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Proctor and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Proctor 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.