What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fitzwilliam has the highest household income ($101k).

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	Fitzwilliam	Brighton
People
Population	2,278Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Fitzwilliam and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,735±$11kHighest 25% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,900±$34kHighest 8% below U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$775±$33 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,173Highest 66% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fitzwilliam and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 13 yrs older than U.S.	1967 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 49% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fitzwilliam and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Brighton 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.