What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most affordable homes ($330k median).

Beekman has the most people working from home (13.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Beekman
People
Population	8,393Lowest	14,069Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.2±6.6Highest 6% above NY	41.2±2Lowest 4% above NY
	Dover and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Beekman and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	15%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Dover and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%	35%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Beekman and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,803±$27kLowest 7% above NY	$126,250±$13kHighest 47% above NY
	Beekman and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,000±$35kLowest 22% below NY	$440,800±$19kHighest 4% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,220±$165Lowest 25% below NY	$1,870±$375Highest 15% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,057Lowest 8% below NY	$8,686Highest 32% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1%	45.3%±22Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dover and Beekman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest NY: 14%	5.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 5% above NY	38 minHighest 16% above NY
Work from home	7.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Beekman and Dover 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	#207 of 484 in NY	#257 of 484 in NY
School district	DOVER UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	DOVER HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.