Compare towns
Braintree vs Springfield 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 affordable homes ($218k median).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,122 |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Lowest 32% 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea 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% |
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% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chelsea and Braintree 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. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Springfield 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. |
$3,762Lowest 21% 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% |
66.3%±33.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chelsea 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% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 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 |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Springfield 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 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.