What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Fairlee
People
Population	5,611Highest	1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Lowest 42% above U.S.	56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S.
	Fairlee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fairlee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.	$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.	$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.	1972 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Rye School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.