Compare towns
Marlow vs Springfield vs Gilsum vs Alstead
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%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Gilsum has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
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 | Springfield | Gilsum | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 855 |
1,122 |
716Lowest |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 12% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$80,417±$7k 19% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| 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 19% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| 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±$160 23% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
— |
| Gilsum 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 |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Marlow School District | — | Monadnock Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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.