Compare towns

Marlow vs Strafford vs Stoddard

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 most affordable homes ($325k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

MeasureMarlowStraffordStoddard
People
Population
855Lowest
1,372Highest
1,072
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.8±11.7
36% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Lowest
32% above U.S.
53±4Highest
36% above U.S.
Stoddard and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±3.4Lowest
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%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Marlow and Stoddard 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%
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Stoddard 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.
$94,904±$11kLowest
18% 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.
$330,300±$20k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,154±$160Highest
18% below U.S.
$1,125±$789
20% below U.S.
$895±$751Lowest
37% 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
$5,826
87% above U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
$4,316Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.2%±95.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stoddard and Strafford 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
Work from home
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Strafford and Stoddard 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 Stoddard 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.