Compare towns
Springfield vs Reading vs Marlow vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Reading | Marlow | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
699Lowest |
855 |
1,616Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
50±3.2Lowest 29% 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%±8 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyndeborough 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±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Lyndeborough 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Marlow School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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 | 4 photos → | 7 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.