Compare towns
Dorset vs Salem vs Ira
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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
2,611Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Salem 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Salem 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Dorset 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±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Salem 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. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Salem 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 | — |
| High school 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.