Compare towns
Springfield vs Temple vs Ware vs Stoddard
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 highest household income ($101k).
Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Temple | Ware | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
1,363 |
10,048Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| 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%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard and Ware 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% 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%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Stoddard 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. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
| 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±$109 26% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% 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. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,316 38% 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% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% 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% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Ware | Stoddard 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.