Compare towns
Orford vs Dorchester vs Newfields vs 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
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Orford | Dorchester | Newfields | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,295 |
410Lowest |
2,023Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
56±10.5 44% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
— | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
— | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 87% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Newfields School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.