Compare towns

Springfield vs Appleton vs Lyndeborough vs Marlow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldAppletonLyndeboroughMarlow
People
Population
1,122
1,360
1,616Highest
855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±8.8
32% above U.S.
49.2±7.4Lowest
26% above U.S.
50±3.2
29% above U.S.
52.8±11.7Highest
36% above U.S.
Marlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±8
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Marlow and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Marlow and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,893±$19k
25% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$116,964±$17kHighest
45% above U.S.
$110,455±$12k
37% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$235,600±$33kLowest
29% below U.S.
$390,900±$26kHighest
17% above U.S.
$325,400±$49k
about the U.S. average
Lyndeborough and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$1,482±$457Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,154±$160
18% below U.S.
Lyndeborough and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$7,133Highest
129% above U.S.
$5,826
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90
U.S.: 51.1%
18.2%±95.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
30 minLowest
14% above U.S.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
35 min
33% above U.S.
Work from home
16.7%±11.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Appleton Public Schools Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District Marlow School District
High school in town — None in town None in town None in town
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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.