Compare towns
Braintree vs Derry vs Randolph 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Derry | Randolph | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
34,116Highest |
4,843 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Randolph 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 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+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Benson 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 |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Benson 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer 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 |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #60 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.