Compare towns
Braintree vs Webster vs Benson vs Brookfield
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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Webster | Benson | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,227Highest |
784Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Brookfield 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%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Brookfield 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 |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Webster and Brookfield 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. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Webster 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. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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 |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.