Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Benson | Braintree | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,026Highest |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4 50% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest 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 | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Benson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109 25% below U.S. |
| Benson and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest 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 | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.