Compare towns
Springfield vs Dorchester 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Dorchester | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
410Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Dorchester 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 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
— | $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 |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
— | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Springfield 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest 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.