Compare towns
Fairlee vs Norwich 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).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Norwich | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Norwich 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% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Norwich 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.