What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Braintree	Nelson
People
Population	1,026Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Braintree and Nelson 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	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Nelson 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.	$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S.
	Nelson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Braintree and Nelson 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%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson 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	Nelson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.