Compare towns
Appleton vs Braintree vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Appleton | Braintree | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,026 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3 42% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,109±$12k 4% below U.S. |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$283,500±$26kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,140±$126Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$4,488Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.