Compare towns
Braintree vs Ossipee vs Rochester 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Ossipee | Rochester | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
4,521Highest |
1,389 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
50±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Ossipee 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 |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Ossipee 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. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Rochester 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. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Rochester 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Braintree 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.