Compare towns

Fairlee vs Newington 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 most people working from home (15%).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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.

MeasureFairleeNewingtonOrford
People
Population
1,066
939Lowest
1,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
48.7±10.1Lowest
25% 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%
15.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Newington and Orford 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%±11
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee and Newington 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%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Orford 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.
$145,833±$46kHighest
81% above U.S.
$92,571±$24k
15% above U.S.
Newington and Orford 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.
$861,600±$46kHighest
159% above U.S.
$271,900±$25kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242Lowest
23% below U.S.
$2,292±$795Highest
62% above U.S.
$1,263±$686
11% below U.S.
Newington 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.
$6,081Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,836
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.9%±44
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±10.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Newington 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%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
26 minHighest
3% below U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Newington 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.