What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).

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	Rutland	Halifax
People
Population	9,353Highest	7,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA	41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA
	Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA
	Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA	$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA
	Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,657Lowest 6% below MA	$6,840Highest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest MA: 10%	2.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	35 minLowest 22% above MA
Work from home	16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Rutland 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	#150 of 282 in MA	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Halifax
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.