What stands out worked out from the figures below

Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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	Center Harbor	Brighton
People
Population	955Lowest	1,167Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Center Harbor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Center Harbor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$775±$33 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,667Highest 50% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brighton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Brighton School District
High school in town	—	None in town
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.