Compare towns

Brighton vs Mapleton 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

Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

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.

MeasureBrightonMapletonCharleston
People
Population
1,167
1,884Highest
936Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
58.4±9.3Highest
50% above U.S.
Charleston 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%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
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+
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
13.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.3Lowest
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
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$49,286±$17k
39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
$191,800±$23k
42% below U.S.
$238,000±$53kHighest
28% below U.S.
Charleston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33
45% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$979±$444Highest
31% below U.S.
Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360
8% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$3,750Highest
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±26.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Charleston 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%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
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 Brighton School District RSU 79/MSAD 01 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.