What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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	Nelson	Dorset
People
Population	648Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Nelson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average
	Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.	$7,489Highest 140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	29.3%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.