Compare towns
Washington vs Effingham 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).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Effingham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,912Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham 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% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Highest 26% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,096±$217 26% below NH |
| Washington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Springfield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.