What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).

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	Cushing	Brighton
People
Population	1,460Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±7.7Highest 25% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Cushing and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,500±$19kHighest 3% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Cushing and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,800±$44kHighest 23% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,553±$376Highest 10% above U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 26% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cushing and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 13	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.