Compare towns
Springfield vs Barre 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
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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.
| Measure | Springfield | Barre | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
5,572Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% 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%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Barre 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. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Springfield 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Barre 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.