Compare towns

Salisbury vs Berwick vs Franklin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasureSalisburyBerwickFranklin
People
Population
1,609Lowest
8,175
8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.7±2
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.1%±9.6
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.3%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
$71,648±$4kLowest
11% below U.S.
Salisbury and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,400±$47k
9% above U.S.
$369,100±$19kHighest
11% above U.S.
$262,200±$22kLowest
21% below U.S.
Berwick and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
$1,110±$68Lowest
21% below U.S.
Salisbury and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,886
57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±11.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Berwick 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 — #101 of 133 in ME #112 of 120 in NH
School district Merrimack Valley School District RSU 60/MSAD 60 Franklin School District
High school in town None in town None in town Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
16.2
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.