Compare towns
Brookfield vs Arkwright vs Braintree vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Brookfield | Arkwright | Braintree | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
859Lowest |
1,026 |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3Lowest 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+ | 45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arkwright and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$93,000±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Highest 31% below U.S. |
$875±$689 38% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$870±$47 38% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 46% above U.S. |
$3,760Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arkwright and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 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 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 1 photos → | 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.