Compare towns
Dorset vs Peru vs Unity
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%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Peru | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
434Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Peru 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. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Peru 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±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Dorset 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. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Unity 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Peru 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 | — | Unity School District |
| 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.