What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k 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	Wayne	Brighton
People
Population	1,101Lowest	1,167Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Wayne and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wayne and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wayne and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Wayne and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Highest 30% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
	Wayne and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S.	$3,360Highest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wayne and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	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.