What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beekman has the most people working from home (13.2%).

Dover has the most affordable homes ($330k 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	Beekman	Dover
People
Population	14,069Highest	8,393Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±2Lowest 4% above NY	42.2±6.6Highest 6% above NY
	Dover and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Beekman and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Dover and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest NY: 40.2%	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	4.1%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Beekman and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$126,250±$13kHighest 47% above NY	$91,803±$27kLowest 7% above NY
	Beekman and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$440,800±$19kHighest 4% above NY	$330,000±$35kLowest 22% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,870±$375Highest 15% above NY	$1,220±$165Lowest 25% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,686Highest 32% above NY	$6,057Lowest 8% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±22Lowest NY: 52.1%	62%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Dover and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest NY: 14%	11.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	69.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 16% above NY	34 minLowest 5% above NY
Work from home	13.2%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%	7.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Beekman and Dover 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	#257 of 484 in NY	#207 of 484 in NY
School district	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	DOVER UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	DOVER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.