What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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.

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

Measure	New Braintree	Unity
People
Population	973Lowest	1,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±4.6Lowest 23% above U.S.	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	New Braintree and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Unity and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	New Braintree and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,500±$8kHighest 23% above U.S.	$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S.
	New Braintree and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,800±$27kHighest 23% above U.S.	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,484±$316Lowest 5% above U.S.	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.
	Unity and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,508Highest 77% above U.S.	$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±51.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	New Braintree and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	35 minLowest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Unity and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	Unity School District
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.