Compare towns
Berlin vs Swanton 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).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% 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 | Swanton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
2,670Lowest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$66,607±$27k 17% below U.S. |
$71,648±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Swanton 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. |
$229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$1,238±$103Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Franklin 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. |
$4,370 40% above U.S. |
$4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Franklin 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% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Swanton 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 | — | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Berlin School District | — | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | — | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
— | 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.