What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has the highest household income ($89k).

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	Troy	Brighton
People
Population	2,005Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S.
	Brighton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Troy and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,600±$39kHighest 20% below U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,024±$331Highest 28% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
	Troy and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,229Highest 68% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.1%±27.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older 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	10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brighton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock 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.