What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

Bath has the shortest commute (26 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	Bath
People
Population	847Lowest	1,097Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S.
	Bath and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bath and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bath and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S.	$67,813±$22kHighest 16% below U.S.
	Bath and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S.	$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Halifax and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Highest 60% above U.S.	$4,413Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Bath 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.