What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).

Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k 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	Wells River
People
Population	1,122Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.	42.7±12.7Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Springfield and Wells River 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%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wells River 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%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and Wells River 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%	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells River 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.	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.	$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S.	$900±$336Lowest 36% below U.S.
	Springfield and Wells River 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.	$4,154Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.6%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells River 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%	38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	34 minLowest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Wells River 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.