Compare towns
Franklin vs Gray 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 the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Gray | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
8,429Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Gray 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% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%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% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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 11% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
12.5 |
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.