What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most kids (15.1% under 18).

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).

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	Springfield	Devens
People
Population	1,122Lowest	1,723Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.	48.6±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Devens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S.	$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S.	$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S.
	Devens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.	$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Devens and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Devens 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

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.