Compare towns
Dorset vs Dummerston vs Salem
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%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Dummerston | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
2,090Lowest |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Salem 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Salem 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% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% 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 | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.