Compare towns
Springfield vs Ware vs Stoddard 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 most people working from home (16.7%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Ware | Stoddard | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
10,048Highest |
1,072Lowest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% 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%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$94,904±$11k 18% above 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±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— |
| Springfield and Ware 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,316 38% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Grantham 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 | — | Ware | Stoddard School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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.