Compare towns
Springfield vs Orford 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).
Orford has the shortest commute (26 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 | Orford | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
1,295 |
1,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Orford 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% |
44%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Orford 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±$19kHighest about the NH average |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
| Springfield and Orford 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 |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
| Orford and Grafton 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 |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Orford 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% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Rivendell Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.