What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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	Southampton	Halifax
People
Population	6,230Lowest	7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA
	Southampton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Southampton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,125±$23kHighest 18% above MA	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA
	Southampton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$452,300±$25kLowest 20% below MA	$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA
	Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,804±$375 about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,470Lowest 9% below MA	$6,840Highest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6% MA: 10%	2.6% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Halifax and Southampton 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	#205 of 282 in MA	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Southampton	Halifax
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.