Compare towns
Brighton vs Exeter vs Bellows Falls vs Morgan
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Morgan has the most homeowners (84.8%).
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 | Exeter | Bellows Falls | Morgan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
16,151Highest |
2,891 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% 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%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Morgan 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morgan 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$91,250±$25k 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$311,300±$66k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$1,112±$64 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$3,426 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morgan and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.