What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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	Springwater	Stratton
People
Population	2,503Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.6±4.1Highest 17% above U.S.	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springwater and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Springwater and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,670±$16kLowest 5% above U.S.	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Stratton and Springwater 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.	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$438Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.
	Stratton 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.	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.8%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springwater and Stratton 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%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springwater and Stratton 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.