Compare towns
Springfield vs New Braintree 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%).
New Braintree has the youngest population (median age 47.8).
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | New Braintree | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Highest |
973 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
47.8±4.6Lowest 23% 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% |
20%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and New Braintree 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% |
25.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and New Braintree 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% |
41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marlow and New Braintree 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. |
$99,500±$8kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Springfield 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. |
$408,800±$27kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| New Braintree 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. |
$1,484±$316Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| New Braintree and Marlow 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. |
$5,508Lowest 77% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Braintree 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quabbin | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.