What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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	Bowdoin
People
Population	9,084Highest	3,188Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.3±10Highest 14% above U.S.
	Bowdoin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bowdoin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bowdoin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.	$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Bowdoin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.	$292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$963±$100 32% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Highest 54% above U.S.	$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#64 of 70 in VT	#28 of 133 in ME
School district	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Springfield High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3	—
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.