Compare towns
Springfield vs Ware 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%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
10,048Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest 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. |
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% |
19.1%±3.5 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% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest 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% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below 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±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Marlow 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. |
$1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Springfield 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% 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% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest 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% |
92.6%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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.