What stands out worked out from the figures below

Roxbury has the most kids (30.6% 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	Roxbury	Springfield
People
Population	942Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±11.7Lowest 8% below U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.7%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Roxbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,214±$22kLowest 9% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,600±$55kLowest 27% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$950±$495Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S.
	Springfield and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,284Lowest 37% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Roxbury 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.