Compare towns

Berlin vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

MeasureBerlinGorhamFranklin
People
Population
9,383Highest
2,682Lowest
8,799
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
-5.3%
NH: +4.6%
+3.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.6±2.8
3% above NH
53.9±3.6Highest
24% above NH
42.7±2Lowest
about the NH average
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.8
NH: 18.2%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
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%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
31.7%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.3%±3.9
NH: 20.1%
Gorham 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%
20.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
19.1%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
6.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.2%±1.4
NH: 6%
Gorham 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
$61,275±$7k
38% below NH
$71,648±$4kHighest
28% below NH
Franklin and Gorham 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
$161,600±$49k
60% below NH
$262,200±$22kHighest
35% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$815±$141Lowest
45% below NH
$838±$83
44% below NH
$1,110±$68Highest
26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,437Lowest
48% below NH
$4,334
35% below NH
$4,886Highest
27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±12Highest
NH: 48.2%
41%±20.3
NH: 48.2%
38.8%±11.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Berlin and Gorham 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%
4.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
71.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.2%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
41 yrs older than NH
1971Highest
8 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%±2.1
NH: 16.8%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
8.3%±4.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
Franklin and Berlin 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 #57 of 120 in NH #112 of 120 in NH
School district Berlin School District Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Franklin School District
High school in town Berlin Senior High School Gorham High School Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.2Lowest
9.0
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.