Compare towns
Orford vs Newington 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).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Fairlee has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Newington | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295Highest |
939Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Lowest 25% 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% |
15.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newington and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest 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. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Newington and Orford 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. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Newington 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Newington 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 |
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.