Compare towns
Dublin vs Nelson 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
Dublin has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Dublin | Nelson | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Highest |
648Lowest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14kHighest 6% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Dublin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72kHighest 7% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Dublin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Highest 11% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Nelson 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 |
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.