Compare towns
Brighton vs Dunbarton 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 renters (48.9% rent).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Dunbarton | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
3,097Highest |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Brighton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Dunbarton 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. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Highest 17% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Dunbarton 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Dunbarton School District | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.