What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).

Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Preston
People
Population	7,748Highest	4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S.	46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S.
	Preston 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 U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Preston 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 U.S.: 35.7%	28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Halifax and Preston 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 47% above U.S.	$116,648±$27kLowest 44% above U.S.
	Halifax and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S.	$361,900±$13kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,433±$1kLowest about the U.S. average
	Halifax and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,840Highest 119% above U.S.	$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Preston and Halifax 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%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	91.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Halifax and Preston 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	#93 of 149 in CT
School district	Halifax	Preston 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.