Compare towns
Braintree vs Exeter vs Brookfield 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (18 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 | Exeter | Brookfield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,486 |
2,007 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
50.5±7.7 30% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Randolph 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.9Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$75,069±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$235,400±$25k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$4,507 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Randolph 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.