Compare towns
Braintree vs Brookfield vs Gorham vs Benson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Brookfield | Gorham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,486 |
2,682Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Gorham 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Gorham 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% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest 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 | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.