Compare towns
Brighton vs Concord vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Concord has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Charleston has the most homeowners (87.1%).
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 | Brighton | Concord | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
44,375Highest |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$84,902±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$350,900±$13kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,441±$43Highest about the U.S. average |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
| Concord and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,227Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #89 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Concord High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.