What stands out worked out from the figures below

Conway has the most expensive homes ($314k 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	Conway	Brighton
People
Population	10,141Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Conway and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Conway and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Conway and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,385±$8kHighest 20% below U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Conway and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,095±$141Highest 23% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,087Highest 31% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Conway School District	Brighton School District
High school in town	Kennett High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
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.