Compare towns

Benson vs Braintree vs Warner

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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.

MeasureBensonBraintreeWarner
People
Population
784Lowest
1,026
2,959Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.9±9.4
33% above U.S.
58.4±2.4Highest
50% above U.S.
43.7±4Lowest
12% 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%
17.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Warner 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%
20.4%±3.5Lowest
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%
42.4%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%
5.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Benson and Warner 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
$94,022±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
Warner 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.
$353,100±$22kHighest
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$170
21% below U.S.
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,219±$123Highest
14% below U.S.
Warner 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.
$7,650Highest
145% 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%
48.7%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Benson and Warner 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%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
81%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%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
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±4.8Lowest
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 Kearsarge Regional 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.