Compare towns
Berlin vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Waltham | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
452Lowest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8 15% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Waltham 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. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$71,648±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Franklin 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. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Waltham 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. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 Our Story | 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.