© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Braintree.
About
Life in Braintree
This is a solidly upper-middle-class suburb where you'll find stable employment and good schools — the kind of place where people tend to stay put and build lives. That said, you're looking at $2,024 monthly rent and homes averaging $2,024, which puts it squarely in the expensive category for the region — you're paying for proximity to Boston and established suburbs. The commute to employment centers runs about 33 minutes on average, so this works best if you're working locally or have flexibility with remote work.
Braintree at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Foreign-Born
20.0%
Broadband Internet
95.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Braintree: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Braintree, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (37.5%), and 13.1% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
17.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.6%
of households
Married Couples
52.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 15% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Braintree
In Braintree, rent runs 15% above the MA average, and home values are 17% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,436
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Braintree
Unemployment in Braintree is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Braintree Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.7 min avg
How Braintree residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Braintree, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 47% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 20% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Braintree runs 20% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
263.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,431.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Braintree Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Norfolk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Norfolk County, which includes Braintree, the most common type is strong wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,200 |
| 2024 | 14 | High Wind | $4,200 |
| 2023 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,800 |
| 2022 | 25 | Strong Wind | $17,500 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $322,000 |
| 2020 | 57 | Strong Wind | $30.2M |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $90,800 |
| 2018 | 45 | Strong Wind | $240,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Norfolk County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Norfolk County, which includes Braintree, is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
55
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Norfolk County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Braintree has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.3"
Annual Snowfall
50.9"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
115
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
137
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 4.49" |
| Feb | 40°F | 23°F | 3.97" |
| Mar | 47°F | 29°F | 5.39" |
| Apr | 58°F | 38°F | 4.64" |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 3.78" |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 4.04" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 3.56" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.83" |
| Sep | 74°F | 55°F | 3.90" |
| Oct | 63°F | 44°F | 5.22" |
| Nov | 52°F | 35°F | 4.43" |
| Dec | 43°F | 27°F | 5.07" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Braintree
Uninsured
1.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Braintree's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
South Shore Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · South Weymouth
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Milton
Carney Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Boston
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Braintree
Braintree's student/teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 47.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Braintree (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
7.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 7,829 students · in-state tuition $12,194 · 60% graduate · median earnings $61,441 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Adams National Historical Park, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Braintree
Braintree has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Adams National Historical Park (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
4 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
8 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayPublic Libraries in Braintree
Thayer Public Library
798 Washington Street, Braintree
Cities Near Braintree
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Braintree?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Braintree FAQ
Is Braintree, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Braintree's median rent is $2,024/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $122,214/year. Median home value is $656,800.
Is Braintree, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Braintree's violent crime rate was 264 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1432 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Braintree, Massachusetts?⌄
Braintree has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Braintree, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Braintree is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,024/month and median household income is $122,214/year. The median home value is $656,800. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Braintree, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Braintree is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from