What stands out worked out from the figures below

Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).

Springfield has the most kids (24.2% 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	Quinebaug	Springfield
People
Population	1,193Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S.	33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	20.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S.	$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S.	$245,000±$4kHighest 26% below U.S.
	Springfield and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,144±$55 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,703Highest 19% above U.S.	$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Quinebaug and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Springfield
High school in town	—	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
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.