What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).

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	Salem
People
Population	1,167Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Brighton and Salem 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%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Salem 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%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Salem 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.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Salem 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%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.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem 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	—	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Brighton School District	Salem School District
High school in town	None in town	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
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.