Compare towns
Franklin vs Pittsfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Pittsfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
4,105Lowest |
9,383Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 about the NH average |
41.5±5.1Lowest 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% |
20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield 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 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$74,318±$14kHighest 25% below NH |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
| Pittsfield 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±$22k 35% below NH |
$294,800±$30kHighest 27% below NH |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Franklin 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 |
$1,239±$182Highest 17% below NH |
$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 27% below NH |
$5,694Highest 15% below NH |
$3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 20 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr 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% |
11.6%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pittsfield 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 | #93 of 120 in NH | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Pittsfield School District | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Pittsfield High School | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
— | 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.