Compare towns

Berlin vs Springfield vs Gorham 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).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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.

MeasureBerlinSpringfieldGorhamFranklin
People
Population
9,383Highest
9,084
2,682Lowest
8,799
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±2.8
15% above U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
42.7±2Lowest
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±3.5
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%
23.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.3%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham and Springfield 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%
23.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
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
44% below U.S.
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$61,275±$7k
24% below U.S.
$71,648±$4kHighest
11% 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.
$192,400±$20k
42% below U.S.
$161,600±$49k
51% below U.S.
$262,200±$22kHighest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$815±$141Lowest
42% below U.S.
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$838±$83
41% below U.S.
$1,110±$68Highest
21% 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.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$4,334
39% above U.S.
$4,886Highest
57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±12
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±11.5Lowest
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%
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
3.5%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±4.1
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 #64 of 70 in VT #57 of 120 in NH #112 of 120 in NH
School district Berlin School District River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Franklin School District
High school in town Berlin Senior High School Springfield High School Gorham High School Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.2Lowest
14.3
9.0
16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.