Compare towns
Starks vs Brighton vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Madison has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Starks | Brighton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556Lowest |
1,167 |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
44.9±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Starks and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±7.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$61,698±$20k 24% below U.S. |
| Starks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kHighest 51% below U.S. |
$163,900±$59kHighest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$850±$218 40% below U.S. |
| Starks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,360Highest 8% above U.S. |
$1,740 44% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.5%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±14.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Madison and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Brighton School District | — |
| High school 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.