Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Brewer 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
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Stockbridge | Brewer | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791Lowest |
9,652Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3 42% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,109±$12k 4% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,500±$26kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$126Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,488Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Brewer Public Schools | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.