What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Orford has the shortest commute (26 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	Danbury	Orford
People
Population	1,451Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.4±5.8Lowest 9% above NH	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH
	Orford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Danbury and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±5Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Orford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,685±$11kLowest 28% below NH	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH
	Orford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,700±$35kLowest 40% below NH	$271,900±$25kHighest 32% below NH
	Orford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,281±$390Highest 14% below NH	$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH
	Danbury and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,760Lowest 44% below NH	$5,836Highest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±36.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Orford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	15.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Danbury and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Newfound Area School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.