Compare towns
Springfield vs Sheldon vs Lyndeborough 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
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Sheldon | Lyndeborough | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
2,267Highest |
1,616 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% 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%±8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% 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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
5.1% 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% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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 | 6 photos → | 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.