Compare towns
Springfield vs Appleton vs Grantham vs Sunapee
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 most people working from home (16.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Springfield | Appleton | Grantham | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
1,360 |
3,465Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Springfield 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Appleton 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% |
50.6% 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% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham and Sunapee 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±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Sunapee 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. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
— | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% 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% |
— | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Sunapee 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest 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. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Grantham 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Grantham School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.