Compare towns
Braintree vs Mapleton vs Union 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Union | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Mapleton 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. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Union 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Brookfield 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.