Compare towns
Appleton vs Brighton vs Morgan vs Union
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).
Morgan has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Morgan | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,167 |
827Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Brighton 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% |
21.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Morgan 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morgan 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$91,250±$25kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Morgan and Union 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. |
$311,300±$66kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Morgan and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,112±$64 21% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,426 10% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 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% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morgan and Union 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 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 | 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.