Compare towns
Dorset vs Colrain vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Colrain has the most renters (13.5% rent).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Dorset | Colrain | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,627 |
1,133Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Danby and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,543 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest 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 | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mohawk Trail | 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.