Compare towns

Fairlee vs Windham vs Bridgewater

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 most renters (19.1% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.

MeasureFairleeWindhamBridgewater
People
Population
1,066
16,038Highest
980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7
44% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
57.1±8Highest
47% above U.S.
Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee and Bridgewater 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%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bridgewater and 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±$10k
7% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39k
18% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$218,300±$55kLowest
34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$850±$778Lowest
40% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617
80% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,418Lowest
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±39.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Bridgewater 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Fairlee 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 — #13 of 120 in NH —
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Windham School District —
High school in town None in town Windham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
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.