Compare towns
Springfield vs Appleton vs Grantham vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Springfield | Appleton | Grantham | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
1,360 |
3,465Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Grantham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #6 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Grantham School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.