Compare towns
Canaan vs Marlow 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
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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 | Canaan | Marlow | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
855Lowest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Marlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Marlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Springfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Marlow and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$5,826Lowest 13% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Marlow School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| 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.