Compare towns

Braintree vs Brookfield vs Rumney

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).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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.

MeasureBraintreeBrookfieldRumney
People
Population
1,026Lowest
1,486Highest
1,458
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.4±2.4Highest
50% above U.S.
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
44.5±2.3Lowest
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Brookfield and Rumney 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%
29.7%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
24.1%±3.7Lowest
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%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rumney 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
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$79,444±$21kLowest
about the U.S. average
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.
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$309,800±$37k
7% below U.S.
Brookfield and Rumney 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.
$975±$306
31% below U.S.
$1,064±$100Highest
25% below U.S.
Rumney and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,908Lowest
25% above U.S.
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$4,716Highest
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±29.4
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.1%±21.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rumney 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%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
33 min
24% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±7Lowest
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 Rumney School District
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.