Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Sutton | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
2,522Highest |
2,239 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Sutton 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±$19kLowest about the NH average |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$325,400±$49kLowest 19% below NH |
| 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±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,154±$160 23% below NH |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$5,826Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | Plainfield School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.