Compare towns
Brighton vs Wolfeboro vs Orleans
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 renters (48.9% rent).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Orleans has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Wolfeboro | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
6,571Highest |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Orleans 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Orleans 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. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
$810±$94 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Orleans 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.