Compare towns
Orford vs Thornton 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 youngest population (median age 48.9).
Thornton has the most expensive homes ($352k 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 | Thornton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
2,799Highest |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thornton 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%±4.9Lowest 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% |
46.3%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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Orford and Thornton 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. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$277,500±$28k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±30.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Thornton 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.