Compare towns
Braintree vs Strafford 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Strafford | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
4,306Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% 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% |
17.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Benson 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Strafford 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.