Compare towns
Braintree vs Bridgewater vs Putnam
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 people working from home (19%).
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
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 | Bridgewater | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
980 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Lowest 38% 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% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Braintree 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Putnam 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 |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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. |
$218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Bridgewater 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. |
$850±$778Highest 40% below U.S. |
— |
| Bridgewater and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Braintree 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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.