Compare towns
Marlow vs Wakefield vs Wolfeboro vs Springfield
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 the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Wakefield | Wolfeboro | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 855Lowest |
5,405 |
6,571Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Marlow 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% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Marlow and Wolfeboro 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 |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Marlow and Wakefield 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Wakefield 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Springfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Springfield 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Wakefield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.