What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Stoddard	Braintree
People
Population	1,072Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Lowest 36% above U.S.	58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S.
	Braintree and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stoddard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoddard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.	$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average
	Stoddard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average	$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Highest 37% below U.S.	$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S.
	Stoddard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Highest 38% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Braintree and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stoddard 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.