What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shrewsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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	Shrewsbury	Springfield
People
Population	38,876Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±1.5Highest about the MA average	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	23.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Springfield and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$592,300±$20kHighest 5% above MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$98Highest 20% above MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,923Highest 16% above MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Shrewsbury	Springfield
High school in town	Shrewsbury High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.