What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Rumney	Halifax
People
Population	1,458Lowest	7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Highest 14% above U.S.	41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Rumney and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rumney and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Halifax and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average	$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S.	$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.	$6,840Highest 119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rumney and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rumney and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Rumney School District	Halifax
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.