Compare towns
Berlin vs Orange vs Franklin
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).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Orange | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
7,573Lowest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Orange 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% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4Highest 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. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$71,648±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141 42% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Orange 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Berlin School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
9.0 |
16.2Highest |
| 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.