Compare towns
Fairlee vs Orford vs Sutton
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).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Orford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,295 |
2,239Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest 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±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 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 min 3% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.