Compare towns
Fairlee vs Unity 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Orford has the youngest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Unity | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Unity and Fairlee 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Orford and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Unity 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Unity School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.