Compare towns
Franklin vs Bow vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bow | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
8,335Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.8Highest 3% above 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.1%±2.7 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% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 27% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Berlin and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 20 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Bow School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Bow High School | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
12.8 |
8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.