Compare towns
Dorset vs Townsend vs Danby
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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Townsend | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
9,100Highest |
1,133Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Danby 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danby 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | North Middlesex | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.