Compare towns
Berlin vs Franklin vs Pittsfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
8,799 |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8Highest 3% above NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
| 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%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield and Franklin 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% |
21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
19.1% NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Pittsfield and Franklin 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 |
$74,318±$14kHighest 25% below NH |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$294,800±$30kHighest 27% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,239±$182Highest 17% below NH |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$4,886 27% below NH |
$5,694Highest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1959 20 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pittsfield 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 | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Berlin School District | Franklin School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | Franklin High School | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
16.2Highest |
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| 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.