Compare towns
Springfield vs Sunapee 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 homeowners (90.7%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
3,416Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
| Sunapee 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,239 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%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 |
33 minLowest 23% above NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.