What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).

Madison has the most expensive homes ($389k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berlin	Madison
People
Population	9,383Highest	2,680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.8Lowest 3% above NH	50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH
	Madison 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%	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Madison 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%	23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Madison 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%	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Berlin and Madison 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	$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH	$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH	$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,437Lowest 48% below NH	$4,074Highest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±12Lowest NH: 48.2%	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%
	Madison 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%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below NH	22 minHighest 17% below NH
Work from home	3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	8%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Madison 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	—
School district	Berlin School District	Madison School District
High school in town	Berlin Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.