Compare towns

Fairlee vs Rye vs West Fairlee

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%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).

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.

MeasureFairleeRyeWest Fairlee
People
Population
1,066
5,611Highest
711Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
50.3±7.6Lowest
29% 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%
13.5%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Rye and West 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%
29.7%±6.7Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.6%Lowest
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%
2.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and West 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±$10kLowest
7% below U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$76,500±$16k
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39k
18% below U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$237,200±$35kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,113±$171
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617
80% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$5,210Lowest
67% 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%
50%±89.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and West Fairlee 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%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
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 Rivendell Interstate School District
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.