Compare towns
Appleton vs Brighton vs Mapleton vs Washburn
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Appleton | Brighton | Mapleton | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,167Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7 24% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6k 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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±$33 45% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Appleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.