Compare towns
Brookfield vs Hampton vs Lincoln 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Brookfield | Hampton | Lincoln | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
1,145 |
1,394 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| 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 |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below 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±$306 31% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$870±$47 38% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Brookfield 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lincoln 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 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 | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Lincoln Town 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 | 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.