Compare towns
Bath vs Benson vs Braintree vs Hill
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Hill has the most expensive homes ($312k 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.
| Measure | Bath | Benson | Braintree | Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,097Highest |
784Lowest |
1,026 |
908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% 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. |
49.1±6.8 26% 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.9%±2.8Lowest 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% |
28.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Hill 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% |
30.4% 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% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Hill 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±$5k about the U.S. average |
$82,125±$21kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Hill and Braintree 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$311,700±$41kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| 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 | $4,413 41% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,933Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest 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. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4Lowest 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 | Hill 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.