Compare towns
Braintree vs Grantham vs Springfield 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).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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 | Grantham | Springfield | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
3,465Highest |
1,122 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% 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% |
19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Grantham 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% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Grantham 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 |
$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Grantham and Springfield 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. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham 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. |
— | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Springfield 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. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Grantham School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.