What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).

Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).

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	Jefferson	Springfield
People
Population	1,013Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 34% above NH	51.4±8.8Lowest 19% above NH
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	15.1%±8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1%	19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	36.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Jefferson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH	$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH	$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH	$1,096±$217Highest 26% below NH
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Lowest 37% below NH	$5,946Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	25.9%±64.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Springfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 29% above NH	34 minLowest 29% above NH
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Jefferson 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.