Compare towns
Fairlee vs Rye vs Rochester
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rye | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
5,611Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Lowest 37% 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% 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% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Rye School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.