Compare towns
Springfield vs Exeter vs Grafton
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Springfield | Exeter | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Grafton 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Grafton 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Grafton 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | 59 photos → | 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.