Compare towns
Charleston vs Unity 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
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
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 | Charleston | Unity | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
58±4.5Lowest 49% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Braintree and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Charleston School District | Unity 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.