Compare towns
Marlow vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Townsend | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855 |
9,100Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,579Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gilsum and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | North Middlesex | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.