Compare towns

Orford vs South Hampton 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).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

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.

MeasureOrfordSouth HamptonFairlee
People
Population
1,295Highest
984Lowest
1,066
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.9±3.3
26% above U.S.
45.1±5.3Lowest
16% 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%
23.3%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
25.5%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.4Lowest
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%
52.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
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.
$152,500±$44kHighest
89% above U.S.
$74,760±$10kLowest
7% below U.S.
South Hampton 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.
$661,100±$45kHighest
99% above U.S.
$274,200±$39k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,263±$686
11% below U.S.
$1,889±$489Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,083±$242Lowest
23% below U.S.
South Hampton 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.
$9,109Highest
192% above U.S.
$5,617Lowest
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±10.7
U.S.: 51.1%
30%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
89.2%±71.3Highest
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%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
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 min
3% below U.S.
28 minHighest
7% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
South Hampton 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 South Hampton 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.