What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).

Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

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	Rutland
People
Population	7,748Lowest	9,353Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA	41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA
	Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rutland 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 MA: 17.9%	14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Rutland 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 14% above MA	$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA
	Rutland 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	$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA
	Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average	$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,840Highest 14% above MA	$5,657Lowest 6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.8%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rutland 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 MA: 10%	2.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 22% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Rutland 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	#150 of 282 in MA
School district	Halifax	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.