Compare towns
Brookfield vs Exeter vs Jefferson 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 expensive homes ($339k median).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k median).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Exeter | Jefferson | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
913Lowest |
1,226 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2 39% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Jefferson 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Jefferson 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Exeter 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. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
— | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Braintree 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Jefferson 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.