What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).

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	Bath	Brighton
People
Population	1,097Lowest	1,167Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Bath and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bath and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$22kHighest 16% below U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Bath and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kHighest 30% below U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Highest 41% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brighton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Bath 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.