Compare towns
Springfield vs Salem vs Bradford
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 homeowners (90.7%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Bradford has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Salem | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
30,964Highest |
1,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
50.3±5.2 16% above NH |
| Springfield and Bradford 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% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bradford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$108,015±$21k 9% above NH |
| Salem and Bradford 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$341,700±$38kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,507±$206 about the NH average |
| Salem and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$6,307 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±22.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Bradford 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% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bradford 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Salem School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.