What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has the highest household income ($107k).

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	Webster
People
Population	847Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Webster 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%	22.6%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Halifax and Webster 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%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster 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.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Webster 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%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Halifax and Webster 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 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.