Compare towns
Grafton vs Hanover 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
Grafton has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Grafton | Hanover | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
8,479Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
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 | 21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Grafton 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| 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.