Compare towns
Springfield vs Salem vs Stoddard
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 people working from home (16.7%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
30,964Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Springfield 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% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Salem and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
| Salem and Springfield 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 |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Salem 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Salem 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 | Stoddard 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.