Compare towns
Braintree vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
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 | Lancaster | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,230Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Lancaster 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 |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% 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. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Benson and Braintree 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. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Lancaster 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. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #107 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.