Compare towns
Colrain vs Dorset vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Colrain | Dorset | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Lowest |
2,092Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.