What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Jackson
People
Population	1,122Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.	37.7±5.8Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Springfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jackson and Springfield 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%	17.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson 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±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.	$75,167±$19kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Springfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.	$231,500±$16kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S.	$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.	$2,651Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Jackson 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%	13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.3%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Jackson 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.