Compare towns

Berlin vs South Hooksett vs Marlborough

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% 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.

MeasureBerlinSouth HooksettMarlborough
People
Population
3,378Lowest
5,902
41,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±2.8Highest
28% above U.S.
35.2±3.6Lowest
10% below U.S.
37.5±1.3
4% below U.S.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Marlborough and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.1%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.9%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
14.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,336±$12k
50% above U.S.
$130,000±$15kHighest
61% above U.S.
$91,968±$9kLowest
14% above U.S.
South Hooksett and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,600±$55kHighest
85% above U.S.
$433,200±$40kLowest
30% above U.S.
$513,100±$28k
54% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,471±$217Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,871±$123
32% above U.S.
Berlin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
$6,801
118% above U.S.
$5,747Lowest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±19.7
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±25Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Marlborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
56%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #61 of 282 in MA — #215 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston — Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough
High school in town None in town — Assabet Valley Vocational High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

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.