What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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	Wheelock	Springfield
People
Population	717Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51±5.6Lowest 31% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wheelock and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wheelock and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,096±$217 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Wheelock 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wheelock and Springfield 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.