Compare towns
Brookfield vs Brighton vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Middleton has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Brookfield | Brighton | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,167 |
1,595Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$101,696±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$312,300±$27k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,500±$293Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,504 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Middleton 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.