What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Rye
People
Population	1,066Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.	55.1±3Lowest 42% above U.S.
	Fairlee and Rye 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%	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rye 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%	31.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fairlee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Rye 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.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Rye 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%	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.