What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Vernon
People
Population	847Lowest	2,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT	42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average
	Vernon 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%	15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Vernon 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%	26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	3%±1.7Highest VT: 7%
	Vernon 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	$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT	$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT
	Vernon and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT	$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT
	Vernon 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	$5,191Highest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4%	26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Halifax and Vernon 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%	5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT	1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 38% above VT	20 minLowest 14% below VT
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%	6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#30 of 70 in VT
School district	Halifax School District	Vernon School District
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.