Compare towns

Fairlee vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).

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.

MeasureFairleeNewfieldsOrford
People
Population
1,066Lowest
2,023Highest
1,295
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above 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%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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±$10kLowest
7% below U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$92,571±$24k
15% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39k
18% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$271,900±$25kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,263±$686
11% below U.S.
Newfields and Orford 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.
$5,836
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±10.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Newfields 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
3% below U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 Newfields School District 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 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.