Compare towns
Braintree vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Gorham | Randolph | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,682Highest |
2,007 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
50.5±7.7Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Gorham 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% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Gorham 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% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Gorham 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% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7Highest 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±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$75,069±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$235,400±$25k 29% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Randolph 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. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,507Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±20.8Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 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 |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.