Compare towns
Braintree vs Meredith vs Benson vs Brookfield
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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Meredith | Benson | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
6,758Highest |
784Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Braintree 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Brookfield 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 |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.