Compare towns
Whitefield vs Marlow vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Whitefield | Marlow | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,516Highest |
855Lowest |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Marlow and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dalton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3 NH: 6% |
| Whitefield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$81,429±$36k 18% below NH |
| Marlow and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$22k 40% below NH |
$325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160 28% below NH |
$1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
| Marlow and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,394 34% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dalton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Whitefield and Dalton 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 | #86 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Marlow School District | — |
| High school in town | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.