Compare towns
Francestown 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
Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Springfield has the most renters (9.3% rent).
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 | Francestown | Marlow | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Highest |
855Lowest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Lowest 18% above NH |
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 | 19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Marlow and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
| Marlow and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
$325,400±$49kLowest 19% below NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Francestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
$1,154±$160 23% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Francestown and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$5,826Lowest 13% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
34 minLowest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Marlow 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.