What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Clay
People
Population	9,084Lowest	59,995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S.	39.8±1Lowest about the U.S. average
	Springfield and Clay 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%	20.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Clay 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%	18.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.	$90,707±$6kHighest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.	$205,900±$6kHighest 38% below U.S.
	Clay and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,240±$40Highest 12% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.	$5,087Highest 63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.6%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Clay 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%	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Clay 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	#249 of 484 in NY
School district	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Springfield High School	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	14.0Lowest
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.