Compare towns
Orford vs Norwich 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 homeowners (75.5%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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 | Norwich | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
3,640Highest |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37%±54.9Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Norwich 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. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$277,500±$28k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Orford 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Norwich 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 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Norwich School District | — |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | 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.