What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Madbury	Brighton
People
Population	2,203Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S.	45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S.
	Brighton and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Madbury and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759Highest 11% 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	16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Madbury and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Oyster River Coop 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.