Compare towns
Braintree vs Appleton vs Benson vs Chelsea
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).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Braintree | Appleton | Benson | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,360Highest |
784Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1 39% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$65,913±$13k 18% 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 | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$260,900±$39kHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Appleton Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None 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.