Compare towns
Springfield vs Needham 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
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Springfield | Needham | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
32,459Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Marlow 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
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| 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.