What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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	Halifax	Brookfield
People
Population	7,748Highest	3,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Halifax and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA
	Halifax and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,840Highest 14% above MA	$5,092Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brookfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 22% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Halifax and Brookfield 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	#120 of 282 in MA	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Halifax	Brookfield
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.