Compare towns
Berlin vs Franklin vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
8,799Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin 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 44% below U.S. |
$71,648±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Franklin School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | Franklin High School | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
16.2Highest |
14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.