What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).

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	Lowell
People
Population	847Lowest	1,070Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.6±13.1Highest 6% below VT	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT
	Halifax and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Lowell and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4%	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Halifax and Lowell 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%	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Lowell 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±$7kHighest 21% below VT	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT
	Halifax and Lowell 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	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT	$945±$46Highest 23% below VT
	Lowell and Halifax 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	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4%	26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Halifax and Lowell 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%	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 38% above VT	55 minHighest 135% above VT
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Lowell 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.