Compare towns
Braintree vs Windham 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 the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Windham | Benson | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
19,188Highest |
784Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest 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±1.8Lowest 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% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 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±$5k about the U.S. average |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$850±$778 40% below U.S. |
| Windham and Benson 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 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% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest 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. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 14 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.