Compare towns
Brighton vs Mapleton vs Starks 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 renters (48.9% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Starks | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1 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. |
$63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kHighest 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$156,300±$18k 53% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Brighton 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. |
$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
$810±$94 43% below U.S. |
| Starks and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Highest 8% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,019 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Starks 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% |
19.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Mapleton 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.