What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).

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	Albany	Springfield
People
Population	790Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±9.7Lowest 7% above NH	51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH
	Springfield and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	15.1%±8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Springfield and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.8%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest NH: 6%	0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Albany and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,639±$19kLowest 32% below NH	$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average
	Springfield and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,300±$68kLowest 38% below NH	$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$112Highest 20% below NH	$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH
	Albany and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,554Lowest 62% below NH	$5,946Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±97.7Highest NH: 48.2%	25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Albany and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	34 minHighest 29% above NH
Work from home	16.2%±18.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Springfield and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.