Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Lancaster 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
Jaffrey has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Jaffrey | Lancaster | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Highest |
3,216 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18k 7% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27k 39% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
$1,096±$217Highest 26% below NH |
| Springfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196Highest 7% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Lancaster 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3 |
— | — |
| 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.