Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Meredith
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 the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Meredith 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Braintree 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%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% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Meredith 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 |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Braintree 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±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.