What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carlisle has the most people working from home (38.5%).

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	Carlisle	Halifax
People
Population	5,239Lowest	7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA
	Carlisle and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4%	22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Carlisle and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Carlisle and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	87.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Halifax and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 140% above MA	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA	$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average
	Halifax and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,840Lowest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Carlisle and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.5%Lowest MA: 10%	2.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 21% above MA	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 282 in MA	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Carlisle	Halifax
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.