Compare towns
Berlin vs Gorham vs Unity 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).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Gorham | Unity | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
2,682 |
1,375Lowest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8 3% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Unity and Gorham 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% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Gorham 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% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$71,648±$4k 28% below NH |
| Unity 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 |
$161,600±$49k 60% below NH |
$276,100±$29kHighest 31% below NH |
$262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
| Unity 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 |
$838±$83 44% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
| Unity 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 |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$4,886 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Unity 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | — | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Berlin School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Unity School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | Gorham High School | None in town | 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 | 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.