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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 |
1,066Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orford and Fairlee 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest 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% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% 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. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% 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. |
$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | 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.