Compare towns
Franklin vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Orange | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
7,573Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$815±$141 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Orange 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
9.0 |
8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.