Compare towns
Franklin vs Bellows Falls 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%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Bellows Falls | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
2,891Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% 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% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
27.5%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% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Bellows Falls 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 | — | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | — | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | — | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
— | 8.2Lowest |
| 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.