Compare towns
Braintree vs Exeter vs Brookfield vs Rochester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
913Lowest |
1,486Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Rochester 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. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$975±$306Highest 31% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Rochester 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.