What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springwater has the most affordable homes ($148k median).

Belvidere has the most people working from home (9.4%).

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	Springwater	Belvidere
People
Population	2,503Highest	422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.6±4.1Highest 17% above U.S.	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Springwater and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Belvidere and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Springwater and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,670±$16kHighest 5% above U.S.	$81,563±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
	Springwater and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$147,500±$17kLowest 56% below U.S.	$239,200±$51kHighest 28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$438Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Belvidere and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,579Lowest 15% above U.S.	$3,908Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.8%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±53.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springwater and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Belvidere and Springwater 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.