What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most kids (17.2% under 18).

Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berlin	Benton
People
Population	9,383Highest	386Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.2% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	44.6±2.8Lowest 3% above NH	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2%	6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	18.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Berlin and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH	$67,895±$4kHighest 31% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH	$288,300±$46kHighest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$815±$141 45% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,437Highest 48% below NH	$2,922Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±12Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Benton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	3.5%±2.1Highest NH: 16.8%	2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Berlin and Benton 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	#108 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Berlin School District	—
High school in town	Berlin Senior High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.