Compare towns
Marlow vs Needham vs Springfield
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 most affordable homes ($325k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Marlow 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.