Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Limerick vs Mapleton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Limerick | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
3,400Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.4±9.2Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% 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 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 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+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$101,172±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Limerick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$269,400±$29kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Limerick and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$1,758±$407Highest 24% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,520 19% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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 | 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.