Compare towns
Braintree vs Cornish vs Croydon 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 the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Cornish | Croydon | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,816Highest |
798 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Cornish 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% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Croydon 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% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Croydon 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% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Croydon 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 |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$98,333±$21kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Croydon and Cornish 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. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$317,300±$33kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Croydon and Cornish 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. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$991±$336 30% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest 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 | Cornish School District | Croydon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.