Compare towns
Berlin vs Franklin vs Laconia
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).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Franklin | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383 |
8,799Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8 3% above NH |
42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Laconia and Berlin 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% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Franklin 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% |
21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Franklin 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% |
19.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Franklin and Laconia 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 |
$71,648±$4k 28% below NH |
$73,218±$12kHighest 26% below NH |
| Laconia and Franklin 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 |
$262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH |
| Laconia and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
$4,886Highest 27% below NH |
$4,484 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia 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% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1959 20 yrs older than NH |
1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Laconia and Franklin 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Berlin School District | Franklin School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | Franklin High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
16.2Highest |
10.0 |
| 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.