Compare towns
Washington vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Lancaster | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
3,216Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Washington and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Washington and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% 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 |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% 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 | $4,321 35% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Springfield 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Washington 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington School District | White Mountains 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.