Compare towns
Springfield vs Nelson vs Dover
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Nelson | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
648Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Springfield and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Springfield and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover 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 |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.