Compare towns
Brookfield vs Chelsea vs Epping 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%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Chelsea | Epping | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,223 |
7,430Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1 39% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% 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 | 18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea 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% |
29.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Chelsea 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. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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 |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467 8% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Epping and Chelsea 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. |
$3,762Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 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. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Epping 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 | — | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Epping School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.