Compare towns
Washington vs Brighton vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Washington | Brighton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
1,167 |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$867±$156 39% below U.S. |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington 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 | 20 photos → |
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.