Compare towns
Springfield vs Temple vs Ware vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Temple | Ware | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
1,363 |
10,048Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham and Ware 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 25% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Grantham 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 15% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
| Temple and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Temple and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Ware and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Ware | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.