Compare towns
Stoddard vs Springfield vs Salisbury vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Stoddard | Springfield | Salisbury | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,072 |
1,122 |
1,609Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 22% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
50.8±7.2Lowest 17% above NH |
| Stoddard and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lempster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$86,607±$12kLowest 13% below NH |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
| Springfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
— |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
$4,558 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9% NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
32 minLowest 20% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Stoddard School District | — | Merrimack Valley School District | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.