Compare towns
Springfield vs Dalton vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Dalton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
916Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Springfield and Exeter 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% |
20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Dalton 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 about the NH average |
$81,429±$36kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dalton 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% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Springfield 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.