Compare towns
Marlow vs Nelson vs Stoddard 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 highest household income ($110k).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Stoddard | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 855 |
648Lowest |
1,072 |
1,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Stoddard and Marlow 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% |
17.5%±3.4 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% |
24.4%±2.5 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% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard 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±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$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 |
$330,300±$20k 18% 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 |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,096±$217 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Nelson 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr 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 25% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 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 | Stoddard School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.