Compare towns
Fairlee vs Ogunquit vs Westminster 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Fairlee | Ogunquit | Westminster | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,379Highest |
497Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Fairlee 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
— | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Orford and Fairlee 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school 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.