What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most expensive homes ($289k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northfield	Berlin
People
Population	4,971Lowest	9,383Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average	44.6±2.8Highest 3% above NH
	Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	17.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Northfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.1%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Northfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,917±$15kHighest 6% below NH	$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,500±$33kHighest 28% below NH	$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$182Highest 28% below NH	$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH
	Northfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,097Highest 24% below NH	$3,437Lowest 48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	43.7%±12Highest NH: 48.2%
	Berlin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% below NH	19 minLowest 30% below NH
Work from home	6.9%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%	3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Northfield and Berlin 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	#109 of 120 in NH	#108 of 120 in NH
School district	Winnisquam Regional School District	Berlin School District
High school in town	None in town	Berlin Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.