Compare towns
Brighton vs Mapleton vs Hope 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Mapleton | Hope | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,884Highest |
1,748 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
21.1%±1.3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%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% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 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. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
| Hope and Charleston 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. |
$3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
$3,750 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% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Hope 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%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% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Hope 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 | Hope Public Schools | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None 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.