Compare towns
Orford vs Fairlee vs Piermont
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 highest household income ($93k).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Piermont has the most kids (23.6% under 18).
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 | Piermont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295Highest |
1,066 |
868Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
49.4±5.7 27% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Piermont 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% |
23.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±2Lowest 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±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$80,000±$17k about the U.S. average |
| Orford and Piermont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$341,600±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,199±$245 15% below U.S. |
| Orford and Piermont 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. |
$6,142Highest 97% 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% |
63%±23.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Piermont 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Piermont 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 | Piermont 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.