What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Brookline
People
Population	7,748Highest	5,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4.7Highest 8% above U.S.	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline 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±$11kLowest 47% above U.S.	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S.	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.
	Brookline and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Lowest 28% above U.S.	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.
	Brookline and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,840Lowest 119% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Halifax 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	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Halifax	Brookline School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.