Compare towns
Marlow vs Sheldon vs Gilsum
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Sheldon | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855 |
2,267Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Gilsum 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marlow and Gilsum 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,417±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,579 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Marlow 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlow School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.