Compare towns
Grafton vs Springfield vs Sunapee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Springfield | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
1,122Lowest |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Springfield 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%±8 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee 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 |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239 21% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
33 minLowest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.