What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most affordable homes ($196k 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	Columbia	Springfield
People
Population	683Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.8±10.1Highest 20% above NH	51.4±8.8Lowest 19% above NH
	Columbia and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Columbia and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1%	19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	36.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%	0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH	$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH	$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH	$1,096±$217Highest 26% below NH
	Springfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH	$5,946Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	25.9%±64.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Springfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	34 minHighest 29% above NH
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Springfield and Columbia 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

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.