Compare towns
Franklin vs Stoneham 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
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Stoneham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Lowest |
23,355Highest |
9,383 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Stoneham 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% |
55.9%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% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 57% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #108 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Stoneham | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Stoneham High | Berlin Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
10.7 |
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.