Springfield offers a tranquil lifestyle immersed in nature
About 20 miles southeast of Lebanon, Springfield is a scenic and secluded community of about 1,000 citizens. Residents can expect to find dense forests and fresh mountain air in this Sullivan County town. “Springfield is the last frontier of rural New Hampshire,” says Ross Doody, an agent at Century 21 Highview Realty who sells across Sullivan County. “There are streams and multiple lakes and ponds nearby, and skiing is not far—about 25 minutes. It’s beautiful because you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but you’re minutes from a major city. Lebanon is a major draw for that area with the medical center and tons of stuff to do.” The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Exploring Springfield’s natural landscape
Springfield’s landscape is a natural fit for hiking. Gile State Forest spans over 6,500 acres across rugged, forested hills and includes several hiking trails. Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge-Greenway (SRKG), a network of trails in New Hampshire totaling about 75 miles, connects through Springfield via SRKG Trail 5, which stretches about 8 miles past Kidder Brook and old mica mines. Nature enthusiasts walking the 4-mile loop around McDaniels Marsh State Wildlife Management Area may spot species of duck, geese, moose or mink.
Residents also have several outdoor recreation options beyond hiking. Kolelemook Lake has a small, sandy beach and public boat launch where folks can go swimming, fishing and kayaking. The 18-hole golf course at Eastman Golf Links is open to the public and gets the sustainable seal of approval from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, certifying that the course uses environmental management practices. Locals can spend the day at Lake Sunapee, a popular spot for fishing and water sports. In the winter, skiers have their choice of mountains: Springfield is located between Mount Sunapee Resort, Whaleback Mountain and Ragged Mountain Resort, which all lie within a 17-mile radius.
Fall foliage and waterfront properties add to Springfield’s appeal
Springfield is not known for its subdivisions; instead, ranch-style homes and New Englander farmhouses sit along rural roads. Hardwood floors and wooden decks are common, adding to Springfield’s rustic atmosphere amongst the trees. In the fall, homeowners can see the leaves change color through their windows. Some homes sit on the shore of a pond or lake, allowing homeowners to dock a small boat right outside the back door. Most prices fall between about $330,000 and $670,000, but can reach about $1.8 million; homes with additional square footage and privacy tend to fetch top prices. About 89% of homes are owner-occupied.
Students are zoned for the Kearsarge Regional School District
Schools are located outside the town within the Kearsarge Regional School District, rated B on Niche. Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at New London is rated B-plus, while Kearsarge Regional Middle and High are both rated B. Students of any age and from any school district may enroll in the high school’s Adult Diploma Program to earn credit toward a high school diploma. Dartmouth College, a private Ivy League university established in 1769, is about 25 miles away in Hanover.
Proximity to highways and services despite a rural setting
Although Springfield is a rural community with no public transportation, there are still amenities within reach of this car-dependent town. Interstate 89 briefly runs through Springfield, leading northwest to Lebanon and across the New Hampshire-Vermont state line. Drivers on I-89 can connect to Interstate 93 in Concord. Springfield is about 55 northwest of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and about 110 miles from Boston Logan International Airport. “A lot of people end up flying out of Manchester because they don’t want to fight Boston,” Doody says. When it comes to nearby medical care, New London Hospital is about 7 miles south from the center of Springfield. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is a larger hospital in Lebanon and the state’s only academic medical center. It is the Dartmouth Health system’s flagship campus and home to Dartmouth Cancer Center.
Shopping and dining outside of Springfield
Although there are no restaurants in Springfield, residents aren’t far from options in the neighboring towns. At Flying Goose Brew Pub in New London , folks can saddle up with a house-made beer by the fireplace or look out towards the mountains while dining on fish and chips. In Lebanon, Weathervane Seafood Restaurant is a regional chain serving everything from lobster to New England clam chowder. For retail needs, shoppers can head to Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer in New London or to Proctor’s General Store on the way to Lebanon, where Walmart and The Home Depot are located.
Community events in Springfield
The Springfield Historical Society hosts events like genealogy workshops and history lectures. In July, the society organizes Old Home Days, a weekend-long celebration featuring family-friendly entertainment like an ice cream social, laser tag and a petting zoo. The Springfield Historical Society also collaborates with other community groups to put on events like the Recreation Committee’s Summer Festival.
