Compare towns
Braintree vs Appleton 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Braintree | Appleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,360 |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Appleton 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% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Appleton 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% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton 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 |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield 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. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Brookfield 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Braintree 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.