What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Nelson	Braintree
People
Population	648Lowest	1,026Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Braintree and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.	$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average
	Nelson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average	$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S.	$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S.
	Nelson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Braintree and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	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

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.