Compare towns
Braintree vs Brookfield vs Sutton vs Randolph
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).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Sutton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,486 |
9,452Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% 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% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Randolph 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,698 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% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Sutton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sutton | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.