Compare towns
Berwick vs Durham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
15,080Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
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 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Durham and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 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.