What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hubbardston has the most affordable homes ($372k 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	Hubbardston
People
Population	7,748Highest	4,371Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA	46.8±9.1Highest 17% above MA
	Hubbardston and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	17.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Halifax and Hubbardston 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%	20.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hubbardston and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	33.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Halifax and Hubbardston 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 14% above MA	$123,500±$24kHighest 19% above MA
	Hubbardston and Halifax 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	$371,600±$18kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average	$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,840Highest 14% above MA	$4,716Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.4%±67.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hubbardston 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%	4.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	93.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 22% above MA	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	14%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hubbardston 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	#128 of 282 in MA
School district	Halifax	Quabbin
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.