What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Plainfield
People
Population	1,167Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S.	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Brighton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton and Plainfield 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%	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Plainfield 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%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Brighton 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	—	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	Brighton School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.