Compare towns
Fairlee vs Orford vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Fairlee | Orford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54Lowest |
1,295 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,500±$28k 17% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | — | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Windham 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 | — | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | — | Rivendell Academy | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.