What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

Exeter has the most homeowners (93.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brighton	Exeter
People
Population	1,167Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.	52.6±7.7Highest 35% above U.S.
	Exeter 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%	9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.9%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Exeter 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.	$84,408±$12kHighest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.	$166,700±$39kHighest 50% below U.S.
	Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.	$995±$386Highest 30% below U.S.
	Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,360Highest 8% above U.S.	$1,602Lowest 49% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Exeter 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brighton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Brighton School District	—
High school 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.