Compare towns
Braintree vs Exeter vs Benson vs Danby
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
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 | Exeter | Benson | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
16,151Highest |
784Lowest |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Danby 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% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,543 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.