Compare towns
Charleston vs Unity vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% 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 | Charleston | Unity | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Charleston School District | Unity School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.