Compare towns
Brighton vs Madison vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Orleans has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Brighton | Madison | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
2,680Highest |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Madison and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$810±$94 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | Madison School District | — |
| High school 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.