Compare towns
Union vs Brighton vs Mapleton vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Union | Brighton | Mapleton | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,167Lowest |
1,884 |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Brighton School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.