What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).

Pawling has the most people working from home (16.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Dover	Pawling
People
Population	8,393Highest	8,044Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.2±6.6Lowest 6% above NY	49.6±2.1Highest 25% above NY
	Pawling and Dover 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%	21.2%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pawling and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.9%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Pawling and Dover 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%	43.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Dover and Pawling 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	$120,592±$16kHighest 40% above NY
	Pawling 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	$449,100±$16kHighest 6% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,220±$165Lowest 25% below NY	$1,522±$314Highest 6% below NY
	Pawling and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,057Lowest 8% below NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1%	53.3%±11.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dover and Pawling 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%	4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	78.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 5% above NY	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	7.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.1%±5.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Pawling 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	#108 of 484 in NY
School district	DOVER UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	PAWLING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	DOVER HIGH SCHOOL	PAWLING HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	11.4Highest
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.