Compare towns
Fairlee vs Peru 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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Peru | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
434Lowest |
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. |
45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest 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. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Peru 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. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Peru and Fairlee 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. |
$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Peru and Orford 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. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Peru 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 History | 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.