What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.2%).

Washburn has the most people working from home (9.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Berlin	Washburn
People
Population	9,383Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.8Lowest 15% above U.S.	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.
	Washburn 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 U.S.: 22%	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Washburn 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%	24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washburn 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%	26%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washburn 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.	$56,196±$6kHighest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$131,000±$15kHighest 61% below U.S.	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
	Berlin and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$815±$141Highest 42% below U.S.	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,437Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Berlin and Washburn 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%	12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	21 minHighest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#108 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Berlin School District	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Berlin Senior High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.