What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).

Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).

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	Grafton
People
Population	847Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%
	Grafton 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 VT	$76,111±$7kHighest 6% below VT
	Grafton 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±$21kLowest 16% below VT	$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT
	Grafton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT	$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Highest about the VT average	$4,843Lowest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4%	53.8%±69.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Halifax and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest VT: 10.1%	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 38% above VT	24 minLowest 4% above VT
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%	15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Halifax and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Athens Grafton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.