What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).

Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).

Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover	Brighton
People
Population	8,479Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S.	45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Brighton 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	62.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 120 in NH	—
School district	—	Brighton School District
High school 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.