Orford

Grafton Countyβ€’Upper Valleyβ€’Population: 1,237

Overview

Orford is a Connecticut River Valley town in Grafton County, known for its well-preserved Ridge Houses, a row of Federal-era mansions overlooking the river. The town's farmland and historic architecture give it a distinctive Upper Valley character.

The Connecticut River offers fishing and paddling, while Orford's proximity to Hanover and Lyme provides access to the Upper Valley's job market and cultural offerings. The town's small commercial center includes a general store.

Housing in Orford reflects its historic, scenic character, drawing families and retirees who appreciate the town's architectural heritage and river valley setting.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Historic architecture
  • β€’River valley setting
  • β€’Scenic beauty
  • β€’Near Hanover

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Limited services
  • β€’Small population
  • β€’Remote location

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Orford.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$17.51
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$16.95
Equalization ratio: 97%
Municipal
$4.45
Local School
$11.05
State Education
$1.01
County
$1.00

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$17.51$16.95$4.45$11.05$1.01$1.00

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$4,378$365
$350,000$6,129$511
$500,000$8,755$730
$750,000$13,133$1,094
$1,000,000$17,510$1,459

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $17.51 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
78.5Β°F
Winter Avg High
33.9Β°F
Annual Snowfall
60.6 in
Annual Rainfall
44.3 in
Sunny Days/Year
251
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
149 mi
~165 min drive
Manchester
100 mi
~108 min drive
Portsmouth
141 mi
~157 min drive
Concord
73 mi
~96 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
10/10
Crime Rate
3.23/1,000
Crime Trend
stable

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
46/100
Trail Miles
46.7
0
Boat Launches
5
State Parks
1
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:16 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$82,625
Per Capita Income
$58,958
Median Family Income
$99,583

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$275,500
Median Rent
$905/mo
Homeownership Rate
78.69%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
5.04%
In Labor Force
774
Work From Home
0.42%

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.29%
Total with Degree
210

πŸš—Commute

Work From Home
0.42%

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
48.7 years
Avg Household Size
2.33 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Orford with Other Towns

See how Orford stacks up against other NH communities.