Compare towns
Exeter 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Exeter | Fairlee | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above 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 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 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.