What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).

Columbia has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Springfield	Columbia
People
Population	1,122Highest	683Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.4±8.8Lowest 19% above NH	51.8±10.1Highest 20% above NH
	Columbia and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Columbia and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$217Highest 26% below NH	$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH
	Springfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,946Highest 11% below NH	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.9%±64.8Highest NH: 48.2%	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Springfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8%	11.2%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Springfield and Columbia 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.