Compare towns
Charleston vs Warner vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Charleston | Warner | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
2,959Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
$94,022±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$353,100±$22kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123Highest 14% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Warner and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Charleston School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.