Compare towns
Danby vs Ashby vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Danby | Ashby | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
3,211Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Danby and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | North Middlesex | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.