What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).

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	Walpole	Brighton
People
Population	3,690Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Walpole and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brighton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
	Walpole and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 13 yrs older than U.S.	1967 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brighton and Walpole 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	#27 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Fall Mountain 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.