Compare towns
Orford vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Newfields has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,295 |
11,685Highest |
2,023 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% 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. |
44.1±1.8 13% above 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
68.1% 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% |
7.5%±7.2 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±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Hanover 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% 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. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%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% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 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. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | Hanover High School | None in town | 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 | 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.