Compare towns
Orford vs Fairlee vs Lyme
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).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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.
| Measure | Orford | Fairlee | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
1,066Lowest |
1,710Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Orford 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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 | $92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme 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. |
$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Lyme 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lyme 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 |
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.