What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooks has the most homeowners (74.6%).

Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brooks	Brighton
People
Population	1,208Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Brooks and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brooks and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,130±$10kHighest 27% below U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Brooks and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,700±$33kHighest 41% below U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
	Brooks and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,116±$112Highest 21% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,096Lowest 33% below U.S.	$3,360Highest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	19.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brooks and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.