Compare towns
Franklin vs Bristol 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
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Bristol | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
3,273Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol 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 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol 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 |
$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
| Bristol 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±$22kHighest 35% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
| Franklin and Bristol 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 |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Highest 27% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 20 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 18% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Newfound Area School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Newfound Regional High School | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.5 |
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.