What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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	Freedom	Brighton
People
Population	1,494Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,136±$14kHighest 18% below U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Freedom and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$775±$33 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Highest 12% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freedom and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 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	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freedom and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Freedom School District	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.