Compare towns
Franklin vs Augusta vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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 | Franklin | Augusta | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Lowest |
19,077Highest |
9,383 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Highest 15% 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 | 17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$47,979±$3k 41% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,437 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Franklin 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #119 of 133 in ME | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Cony | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2 |
17.9Highest |
8.2Lowest |
| 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.