Compare towns
Brooks vs Brighton vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most expensive homes ($197k median).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Brooks | Brighton | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,167Lowest |
1,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
43.4±3Lowest 12% 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%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Brighton 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% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26% 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% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10k 27% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$65,273±$9kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Mars Hill and Brooks 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±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 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±$33 45% below U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$3,360Highest 8% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest 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 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.