Compare towns

Franklin vs Berlin vs Pittsfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (11.6%).

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.

MeasureFranklinBerlinPittsfield
People
Population
8,799
9,383Highest
4,105Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-6.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
-0.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.7±2
about the NH average
44.6±2.8Highest
3% above NH
41.5±5.1Lowest
4% below NH
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
NH: 18.2%
17.2%±2.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
20.8%±6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Pittsfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.3%±3.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.1%±2.7
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±4.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Franklin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.1%
NH: 40.6%
14.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
22.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.4
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
4.5%±3.1Highest
NH: 6%
Pittsfield 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±$4k
28% below NH
$45,180±$5kLowest
54% below NH
$74,318±$14kHighest
25% below NH
Pittsfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,200±$22k
35% below NH
$131,000±$15kLowest
67% below NH
$294,800±$30kHighest
27% below NH
Pittsfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$68
26% below NH
$815±$141Lowest
45% below NH
$1,239±$182Highest
17% below NH
Pittsfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,886
27% below NH
$3,437Lowest
48% below NH
$5,694Highest
15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±11.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
43.7%±12
NH: 48.2%
67.5%±27.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Pittsfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
15.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
11.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.2%
NH: 72.8%
62.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
68.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
20 yrs older than NH
1938Lowest
41 yrs older than NH
1980Highest
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
18% above NH
19 minLowest
30% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
8.3%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
3.5%±2.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
11.6%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
Pittsfield 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 #108 of 120 in NH #93 of 120 in NH
School district Franklin School District Berlin School District Pittsfield School District
High school in town Franklin High School Berlin Senior High School Pittsfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
16.2Highest
8.2Lowest
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NH 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.