Compare towns
Springfield vs Ware 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
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Ware | Lyndeborough | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
10,048Highest |
1,616 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 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% |
24%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% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Lyndeborough 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% 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±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%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. |
1960Lowest 20 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. |
28 minLowest 8% above 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% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.