Compare towns
Dorset vs Danvers vs Fayston
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 the most kids (24% under 18).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Fayston has the most affordable homes ($502k 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.
| Measure | Dorset | Danvers | Fayston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
28,098Highest |
1,342Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.9±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Fayston and Dorset 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Dorset 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% |
48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$110,250±$28kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$502,400±$82kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,654±$274 17% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Fayston 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. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$6,689 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.3%±27.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Danvers 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Fayston 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school 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.