Compare towns
Braintree vs Walpole vs Benson vs Danby
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).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Danby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
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 | Walpole | Benson | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
3,690Highest |
784Lowest |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Danby 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest 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% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Walpole 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 |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Danby 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. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,543 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.