Braintree Town vs Cambridge
Braintree Town, Massachusetts versus Cambridge, Massachusetts: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Braintree Town and Cambridge score about the same overall (48 vs 49 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Braintree Town | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $121k | $122k |
| Cost of Living | $82k | $82k |
| Home Value | $597k | $998k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $3k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.86% | 0.45% |
| Income Tax | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.31% | 14.72% |
| Unemployment | 3.9% | 3.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 29°F | 29°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3 in | 49.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9 in | 49.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 181 days | 181 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 91 days | 97 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 51.5 | 20.9 |
| Air Quality | 44 AQI | 45 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 680/100k | 1147/100k |
| Property Crime | 1313/100k | 2240/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 38,748 | 117,962 |
| Median Age | 41.4 | 30.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.45 | 0.59 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.00 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | D+64 | D+64 |
| White (%) | 69.9% | 56.0% |
| Black (%) | 2.9% | 10.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.9% | 8.7% |
| Asian (%) | 20.7% | 19.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.6% | 5.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 33 min | 26 min |
| Walkability | 13.6/20 | 16.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 11 mi | 5 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 93.4% | 92.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 115.62 | 263.39 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Braintree Town or Cambridge more affordable?
- Cambridge has the lower cost of living: its index is $82k, compared with Braintree Town's $82k and Cambridge's $82k. Median rent is $2k in Braintree Town versus $3k in Cambridge.
- Is Braintree Town or Cambridge safer?
- Braintree Town has the lower violent crime rate. Braintree Town reports 680/100k and Cambridge reports 1147/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Braintree Town or Cambridge?
- The median home value is $597k in Braintree Town and $998k in Cambridge, so homes are more affordable in Braintree Town.