Compare towns
Orford vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
11,685Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Orford 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.