Compare towns
Braintree vs Monroe 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).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Monroe | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
786 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51±10.4Lowest 31% 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% |
20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe 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% |
30.3%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Monroe 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Braintree 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 |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Monroe and Braintree 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. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Benson 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. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Monroe 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Monroe 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 |
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.