Compare towns
Braintree vs Orange vs Randolph 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).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Orange | Randolph | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
7,573Highest |
4,843 |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above 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. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Brookfield 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. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
9.4Highest |
— |
| 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.