Compare towns
Washington vs Middlesex vs Springfield 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
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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 | Washington | Middlesex | Springfield | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,943Highest |
1,122 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 | 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.