Compare towns
Braintree vs Orange vs Benson vs Bridgewater
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Orange | Benson | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
7,573Highest |
784Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Bridgewater 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$70,272±$3k 13% below U.S. |
| 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±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
| Orange and Benson 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. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$850±$778 40% below U.S. |
| Benson and Bridgewater 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. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | 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.