Compare towns
Braintree vs Charleston vs Ogunquit 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Charleston | Ogunquit | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
936Lowest |
1,379 |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4 50% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3 50% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Braintree 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% |
11.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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% |
37.7%±8.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Charleston 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 |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Brookfield 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. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$979±$444Highest 31% below U.S. |
— | $975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Charleston 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. |
$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Charleston 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% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Brookfield 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 | Charleston School District | — | 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 | 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.