Compare towns
Bath vs Benson vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Bath | Benson | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097Highest |
784Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Lowest 25% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% 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 | 21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23k 30% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Bath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest 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 | Bath School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.