Compare towns
Marlow vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Marlow | Nelson | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855 |
648Lowest |
1,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Marlow and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$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 | $325,400±$49kLowest 19% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Springfield and Nelson 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 |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Nelson and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 13% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson 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.