Compare towns
Dorset vs Nelson 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
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Dorset | Nelson | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
648Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dorset 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Dummerston 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% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% 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 | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$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 | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Nelson School District | 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 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.