What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	1,066Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Fairlee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Fairlee 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%	28.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fairlee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kHighest 7% below U.S.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kHighest 18% below U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Highest 23% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Highest 80% above U.S.	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Lancaster 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%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Lancaster 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	—	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.