Compare towns
Marlow vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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 | Northbridge | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
16,458Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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 about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Marlow 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. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Northbridge | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.