Compare towns

Franklin vs Exeter 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 youngest population (median age 42.7).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.

MeasureFranklinExeterBerlin
People
Population
8,799Lowest
16,151Highest
9,383
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-6.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.7±2Lowest
about the NH average
45.8±2.3Highest
6% above NH
44.6±2.8
3% above NH
Exeter and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.8%±3.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.2%±2.8
NH: 18.2%
Franklin and Berlin 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%
24.4%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.1%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Exeter 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%
59.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
14.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.4
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Exeter 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
$110,346±$13kHighest
11% above NH
$45,180±$5kLowest
54% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,200±$22k
35% below NH
$456,600±$21kHighest
13% above NH
$131,000±$15kLowest
67% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$68
26% below NH
$1,856±$223Highest
24% above NH
$815±$141Lowest
45% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,886
27% below NH
$8,814Highest
32% above NH
$3,437Lowest
48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±11.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.7%±12
NH: 48.2%
Exeter and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
15.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.2%
NH: 72.8%
69.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
62.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
20 yrs older than NH
1979Highest
same as NH
1938Lowest
41 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
18% above NH
25 min
7% below NH
19 minLowest
30% below NH
Work from home
8.3%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
3.5%±2.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #112 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH #108 of 120 in NH
School district Franklin School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Berlin School District
High school in town Franklin High School Exeter High School Berlin Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
16.2Highest
12.1
8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 59 photos → 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.