Compare towns

Appleton vs Brighton vs Union vs Newburgh

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).
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.

MeasureAppletonBrightonUnionNewburgh
People
Population
1,360
1,167Lowest
2,663Highest
1,475
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
26% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
45.8±5.7
18% above U.S.
Appleton and Newburgh 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%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Union and Newburgh 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%
21.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.4Lowest
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%
34.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
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%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Newburgh 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.
$80,724±$9kHighest
about the U.S. average
$76,750±$10k
5% below U.S.
Union and Newburgh 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.
$267,600±$42kHighest
20% below U.S.
$244,600±$20k
26% below U.S.
Union and Newburgh 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.
$1,179±$452Highest
17% below U.S.
$950±$219
33% below U.S.
Union and Appleton 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.
$3,276
5% above U.S.
$2,748Lowest
12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±13.9
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%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Union 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 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.