What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fayette has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

Manchester has the highest household income ($92k).

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	Fayette	Manchester
People
Population	1,383Lowest	2,424Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	58.8±4.2Highest 31% above ME	46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Manchester and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.2%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%	22.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	47.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Fayette and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,500±$17kLowest 20% below ME	$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME
	Manchester and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,600±$48kLowest 13% below ME	$299,600±$40kHighest about the ME average
	Manchester and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$816Lowest 14% below ME	$993±$116Highest 13% below ME
	Manchester and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,160Lowest 4% above ME	$3,486Highest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4%	30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Fayette and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	85%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 33% above ME	20 minLowest 19% below ME
Work from home	22.1%±7.1Highest ME: 15.9%	11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Fayette and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Fayette Public Schools	RSU 38
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.