What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the shortest commute (34 min average).

Sudbury has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Sudbury
People
Population	1,122Highest	679Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.	45.4±4.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Springfield and Sudbury 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%	22.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sudbury and Springfield 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%	21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sudbury and Springfield 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%	34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sudbury 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.	$100,208±$33kLowest 24% above U.S.
	Springfield and Sudbury 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.	$338,500±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
	Springfield and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$217 22% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.	$4,205Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Sudbury 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%	3.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.	50 minHighest 89% above U.S.
Work from home	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.2%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Sudbury 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.