Compare towns
Marlow vs Plainfield vs Springfield vs Alstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Plainfield | Springfield | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 855Lowest |
1,314 |
1,122 |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead 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 37% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Marlow and Plainfield 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Marlow School District | — | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.