Compare towns
Marlow vs Mason 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
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Mason | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
1,451Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
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 | 20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Marlow and Mason 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 12% above NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
| Mason 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±$49kLowest 19% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Springfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
34 minLowest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlow School District | Mason 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.