What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Grafton	Springfield
People
Population	1,354Highest	1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.1±10.6Lowest 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	21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	15.1%±8Lowest 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%	19.8%±1.6Lowest 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%	36.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Highest NH: 6%	0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH	$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average
	Springfield and Grafton 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	$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,243±$163Highest 17% below NH	$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH
	Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,239Lowest 21% below NH	$5,946Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±34.1Highest NH: 48.2%	25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Grafton and Springfield 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%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	43 minHighest 62% above NH	34 minLowest 29% above NH
Work from home	19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.