What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orford has the highest household income ($93k).

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	Orford
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Lowest 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%	12.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orford 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%	25.5%±4.2Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Lowest 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.	$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Orford 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±$39kHighest 18% below U.S.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 23% 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	$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S.	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Lowest 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest 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	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 Our Story	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.