Compare towns
Barnet vs Benson vs Braintree vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the youngest population (median age 47.7).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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.
| Measure | Barnet | Benson | Braintree | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
784Lowest |
1,026 |
786 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Benson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.