Compare towns
Derry vs Grafton vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Derry | Grafton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,354 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Derry and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Derry and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton and Springfield 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.