Compare towns
Springfield vs Mapleton vs Plainfield 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
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
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 | Mapleton | Plainfield | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
1,884 |
2,522Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



