Compare towns
Roxbury vs Exeter vs Lowell 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
Roxbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Roxbury | Exeter | Lowell | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 942 |
913Lowest |
1,070Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±11.7 8% below U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,214±$22k 9% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Braintree and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,600±$55k 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$495Highest 33% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$945±$46 33% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Roxbury and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,284Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.3%±92.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 27.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Lowell 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 | 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.