Compare towns
Nelson vs Braintree vs Roxbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Nelson | Braintree | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
1,026Highest |
299Lowest |
| 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. |
43.2±17.7 11% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±11.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Braintree 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±$5k about the U.S. average |
$69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$323,100±$219k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,787Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest 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 | 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.