What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($274k median).

Oswego has the most kids (21.9% under 18).

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	Oswego
People
Population	1,066Lowest	17,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Oswego and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kHighest 7% below U.S.	$53,172±$4kLowest 34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kHighest 18% below U.S.	$120,600±$7kLowest 64% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,109±$72Highest 22% below U.S.
	Oswego 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.	$3,362Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	60.4%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Oswego 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	—	#285 of 484 in NY
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.5
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.