Compare towns
Marlow vs Stoneham 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 the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Stoneham | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855 |
23,355Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Stoneham 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,575±$894 11% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Gilsum 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. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,579Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Stoneham | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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| 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.