Compare towns
Durham vs Fairlee vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Orford has the most kids (12.3% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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.
| Measure | Durham | Fairlee | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
54Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Durham and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$277,500±$28k 17% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Durham and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
— | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.