What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k 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	Auburn	Halifax
People
Population	6,119Lowest	7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S.	41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Auburn and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Halifax and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Auburn and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S.	$118,556±$11kLowest 47% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S.	$481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S.	$1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Auburn and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,092Highest 159% above U.S.	$6,840Lowest 119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#44 of 120 in NH	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Auburn School District	Halifax
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.