Compare towns
Dorset vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Salem | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
2,611Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% 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% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 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% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest 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% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% 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. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$40Lowest 33% 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. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.