Compare towns
Grantham vs Acton vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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.
| Measure | Grantham | Acton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
2,721 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Acton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Grantham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | Acton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.