What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).

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	Grantham	Brighton
People
Population	3,465Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Grantham and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Grantham and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Grantham and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Grantham and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,100±$39kHighest 3% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$775±$33 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,605Highest 144% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	55%±17 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Grantham 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	#6 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Grantham 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.