Compare towns

Marlow vs Strafford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.

MeasureMarlowStraffordSpringfield
People
Population
855Lowest
1,372Highest
1,122
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.8±11.7Highest
36% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Lowest
32% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Lowest
32% above U.S.
Marlow and Strafford 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%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford 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%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Marlow and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford 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.
$110,833±$19kHighest
37% above U.S.
$100,893±$19kLowest
25% above U.S.
Strafford 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
$431,300±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
Strafford and Springfield 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.
$1,125±$789
20% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
Marlow and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,826Lowest
87% above U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.2%±95.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford 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%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
Work from home
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Marlow School District Strafford School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.