What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).

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	Sanbornton	Brighton
People
Population	3,053Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±5.4Lowest 8% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S.
	Brighton and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$41kHighest 41% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,289±$198Highest 9% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,731Highest 84% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sanbornton 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	#42 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 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.