Compare towns
Springfield vs Meredith 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 highest household income ($101k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Grafton has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Grafton and Meredith 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 |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
| Springfield and Meredith 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
| Meredith and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,243±$163Highest 17% below NH |
| Grafton and Meredith 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,239 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Grafton 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.