Compare towns
Braintree vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
10,681Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Braintree 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Durham and Benson 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Benson 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 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 |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.