Compare towns
Berwick vs Manchester 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
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Berwick | Manchester | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
115,643Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39kHighest about the U.S. average |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$365,600±$7kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Manchester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Manchester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$5,922Highest 90% above U.S. |
$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Manchester Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.