Compare towns
Berlin vs Dover vs Franklin
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Franklin has the most kids (17.8% 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Dover | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383 |
33,364Highest |
8,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8Highest 3% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
| Berlin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Franklin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Franklin and Berlin 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% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$71,648±$4k 28% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,886 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Berlin 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1959 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #108 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Berlin School District | Dover School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | Dover Senior High School | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
12.7 |
16.2Highest |
| 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.