Compare towns
Wallingford vs Springfield vs Northford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Northford has the most homeowners (90.2%).
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.
| Measure | Wallingford | Springfield | Northford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,362 |
154,749Highest |
6,186Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8 10% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
48.1±5.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Northford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.6%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Northford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5k 30% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$105,174±$24kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8k 6% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$403,800±$31kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84 about the U.S. average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,408±$326Highest about the U.S. average |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963 91% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,302Highest 134% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.6%±21.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wallingford and Northford 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #276 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.