Compare towns
Springfield vs Lancaster 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 most expensive homes ($384k median).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Lancaster | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
3,216Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Grafton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$81,563±$22k 18% below NH |
| Springfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,243±$163Highest 17% below NH |
| Grafton and Springfield 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 |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,239 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.