What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).

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	Brighton
People
Population	847Lowest	1,167Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT	45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT
	Brighton 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 VT: 17.9%	18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Halifax and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Brighton 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 VT: 43.8%	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$7kHighest 21% below VT	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT
	Halifax and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Highest 29% below VT	$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT
	Halifax and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Highest about the VT average	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4%	55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Halifax and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	22%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 8 yrs older than VT	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 38% above VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%	12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Halifax and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.