What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairlee	Durham
People
Population	1,066Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fairlee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Lowest 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	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest 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	Rivendell Interstate School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	None in town	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.