What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has the highest household income ($112k).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	847Lowest	1,609Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.
	Salisbury 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%	20.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Salisbury 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%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salisbury 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.	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S.	$5,859Highest 88% 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 Salisbury 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%	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Halifax and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.