What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Strafford
People
Population	847Lowest	1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT
	Strafford 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%	23%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Halifax and Strafford 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%	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Halifax and Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT
	Strafford 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	$7,149Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Halifax and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 38% above VT	23 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Halifax and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Strafford School District
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.