Compare towns

Franklin vs Meredith vs Berkshire

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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).

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.

MeasureFranklinMeredithBerkshire
People
Population
1,590Lowest
6,758Highest
1,745
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.8±6.9
about the U.S. average
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
31.6±6.9Lowest
19% below U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Berkshire and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.3%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Franklin and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,917±$21k
about the U.S. average
$87,019±$19kHighest
8% above U.S.
$71,406±$21kLowest
12% below U.S.
Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$247,400±$66k
26% below U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$244,600±$26kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$891±$266Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,525±$267Highest
8% above U.S.
Berkshire and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,384Lowest
8% above U.S.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
$3,545
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±42.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
57.4%±52.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Berkshire and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith 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 — #62 of 120 in NH —
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
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.