Compare towns
Marlow vs Lancaster vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Marlow | Lancaster | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855 |
8,606Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marlow and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,575±$894 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,579Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Nashoba | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.