Compare towns
Berlin vs Columbia vs Dummer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (11.2%).
Dummer has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Berlin | Columbia | Dummer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
683 |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8Lowest 3% above NH |
51.8±10.1 20% above NH |
53.6±6.4Highest 24% above NH |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Columbia and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
14.5% NH: 40.6% |
16.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Columbia and Berlin 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 |
$57,917±$13k 42% below NH |
$91,250±$21kHighest 8% below NH |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
$196,400±$29k 51% below NH |
$242,200±$51kHighest 40% below NH |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Highest 45% below NH |
$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH |
— |
| Berlin and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,437Highest 48% below NH |
$2,009Lowest 70% below NH |
$2,898 57% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12Highest NH: 48.2% |
9.1%±95.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Berlin and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.7% NH: 7.2% |
9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
25 minHighest 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Columbia and Dummer 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.