Compare towns

Brookfield vs Barrington vs Braintree

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%).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldBarringtonBraintree
People
Population
1,486
9,489Highest
1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
58.4±2.4Highest
50% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barrington and Brookfield 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%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.2%±3.4Highest
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%
42.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Barrington 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±$23k
22% above U.S.
$110,323±$14kHighest
37% above U.S.
$79,803±$5kLowest
about the U.S. average
Barrington and Brookfield 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
$399,100±$30kHighest
20% above U.S.
$217,700±$28kLowest
35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306
31% below U.S.
$1,867±$194Highest
32% above U.S.
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$7,121Highest
128% above U.S.
$3,908Lowest
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.1%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.4%±29.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Barrington and Braintree 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%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87%
U.S.: 65.2%
81%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.7%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±7.2
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 — #65 of 120 in NH —
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Barrington School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None 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.