Compare towns
Benson vs Braintree vs Rumney
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
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 | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,026 |
1,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3Lowest 14% 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rumney and Benson 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% |
24.1%±3.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%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% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Rumney 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±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$79,444±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Braintree and Rumney 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. |
$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100 25% below U.S. |
| Benson and Rumney 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. |
$4,716Highest 51% 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% |
48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Rumney 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7Lowest 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 | Rumney School District |
| 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.