Compare towns
Fairlee vs Bow vs Newfane
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Bow | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Bow and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Bow School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.