What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).

Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).

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	Putnam
People
Population	847Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
	Putnam 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%	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Putnam 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%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam 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.	$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S.	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Halifax and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154 38% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Highest 60% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Putnam 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%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	PUTNAM CENTRAL 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.