Compare towns
Dorset vs Orange vs Mount Tabor
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Orange | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
7,573Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Orange 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,233 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.