Compare towns
Arkwright vs Braintree 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
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
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 | Arkwright | Braintree | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 859Lowest |
1,026 |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest 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+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arkwright and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,000±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$689 38% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$975±$306Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,760Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±65.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arkwright and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school 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.