Compare towns
Braintree vs Springfield vs Bridgewater 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Springfield | Bridgewater | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,122 |
980Lowest |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Brookfield 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 |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Brookfield 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Brookfield 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. |
$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school 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.