Compare towns
Brookfield vs Needham 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 homeowners (87.9%).
Needham 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 | Needham | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
32,459Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest 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. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Brookfield 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Needham | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.