Compare towns
Braintree vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Chelsea
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 people working from home (19%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Chelsea has the most expensive homes ($261k median).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1 39% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Chelsea 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Chelsea 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Chelsea 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$65,913±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$260,900±$39kHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Chelsea and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Chelsea 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Chelsea 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None 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.