Compare towns
Jefferson vs Brighton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Jefferson | Brighton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
1,167 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156 39% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Brighton School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | 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.