Compare towns
Grafton vs Salem 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 affordable homes ($267k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Grafton | Salem | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
30,964Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield and Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Salem 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Grafton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.