What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).

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	Rye
People
Population	7,748Highest	5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Rye 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%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Halifax and Rye 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.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye 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±$51kLowest 45% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Halifax and Rye 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.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#120 of 282 in MA	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Halifax	Rye 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.