Compare towns
Braintree vs Appleton vs Stockbridge vs Rochester
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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Stockbridge has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Stockbridge | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,360 |
791Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3 42% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% 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 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 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+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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 | $79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$77,109±$12k 4% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% 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 | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$283,500±$26kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Rochester 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. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,140±$126Highest 19% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% 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 | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,488Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Rochester 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Stockbridge 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.