Compare towns
Braintree vs Colrain 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%).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% 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 | Colrain | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,627Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% 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 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Colrain 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% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Colrain 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 |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain 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±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Colrain 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. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Colrain 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 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 | Mohawk Trail | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.