What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k 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	Springfield	Jefferson
People
Population	1,122Lowest	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S.	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Springfield 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%	12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson 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.	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$217 22% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson 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.