What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

Rumney has the most kids (18.7% 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	Rumney
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney 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%	24.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Rumney 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.	$79,444±$21kHighest about the U.S. average
	Rumney 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±$39kLowest 18% below U.S.	$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Rumney and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Highest 23% below U.S.	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Rumney 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.	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.1%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Rumney 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%	10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Rumney School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.