What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	1,167Lowest	1,609Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury 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%	24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton and Salisbury 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%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Salisbury 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.	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Salisbury 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%	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Brighton School District	Merrimack Valley 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.