Compare towns

Danbury vs Springfield vs Effingham vs Grafton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danbury has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Grafton has the most people working from home (19.9%).

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.

MeasureDanburySpringfieldEffinghamGrafton
People
Population
1,451
1,122Lowest
1,912Highest
1,354
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%
NH: +4.6%
-4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+15.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
47.4±5.8
9% above NH
51.4±8.8Highest
19% above NH
46.9±12.4
8% above NH
43.1±10.6Lowest
about the NH average
Springfield and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
15.1%±8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±4.5
NH: 18.2%
21%±4.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
Grafton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±1.6
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±2.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
Danbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
17.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
36.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
20.3%
NH: 40.6%
24.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.7
NH: 6%
0%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
1.1%±0.8
NH: 6%
4.5%±2.8Highest
NH: 6%
Grafton and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,685±$11kLowest
28% below NH
$100,893±$19kHighest
about the NH average
$76,607±$14k
23% below NH
$81,563±$22k
18% below NH
Springfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,700±$35kLowest
40% below NH
$384,100±$50kHighest
5% below NH
$322,700±$30k
20% below NH
$267,300±$23k
34% below NH
Springfield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,281±$390Highest
14% below NH
$1,096±$217
26% below NH
$1,090±$121Lowest
27% below NH
$1,243±$163
17% below NH
Danbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,760Lowest
44% below NH
$5,946Highest
11% below NH
$5,163
23% below NH
$5,239
21% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±36.3
NH: 48.2%
25.9%±64.8
NH: 48.2%
13.6%±40.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
32.1%±34.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
Grafton and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
9%
NH: 7.2%
7.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
90.7%
NH: 72.8%
90.2%
NH: 72.8%
83.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
35% above NH
34 min
29% above NH
32 minLowest
18% above NH
43 minHighest
62% above NH
Work from home
15.1%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±11.6
NH: 16.8%
16.1%±4.2
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±6.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Newfound Area School District — Governor Wentworth Regional School District —
High school in town None in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 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.