What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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	Orwell
People
Population	847Lowest	1,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT	47.5±7Highest 10% above VT
	Orwell 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%	21.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Halifax and Orwell 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%	24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Orwell 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%	22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Orwell 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	$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below VT
	Orwell 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	$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT	$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Highest about the VT average	$3,914Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Orwell and Halifax 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%	10.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	87.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 38% above VT	27 minLowest 15% above VT
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Halifax and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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.