What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).

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	Northfield	Brighton
People
Population	4,971Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±5.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S.
	Brighton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Northfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$182Highest 24% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,097Highest 63% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brighton and Northfield 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	#109 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Winnisquam Regional School District	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.