Compare towns
Appleton vs Brighton vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Appleton | Brighton | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,167 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kHighest 34% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,750Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Brighton School District | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.