Compare towns
Orford vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Windham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
16,038Highest |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$277,500±$28k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| 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%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
— |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.