Compare towns
Fairlee vs Middlesex vs Stratton 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
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Middlesex | Stratton | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,943Highest |
532Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below 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 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Orford 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,750Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Orford 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 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 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.