Compare towns
Washington vs Dover vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Washington | Dover | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
33,364Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Washington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32kLowest 11% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Dover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.