What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairlee	Oakham
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Fairlee and Oakham 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%	18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Oakham 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%	21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Oakham 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.	$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Oakham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S.	$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.
	Oakham and Fairlee 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.	$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Oakham 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%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Quabbin
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.