What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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	Reading
People
Population	847Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT	51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT
	Reading 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%	18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Halifax and Reading 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%	28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Reading 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	46%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7%
	Reading 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	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT
	Reading 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	$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT	$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT
	Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Lowest about the VT average	$5,754Highest 14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Reading 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%	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT	1969Highest 7 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%	22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Halifax and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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.