Compare towns
Nelson vs Dorset vs Eaton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Eaton has the most affordable homes ($119k median).
Eaton is a college town. 34.3% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Nelson | Dorset | Eaton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,765Lowest |
2,092 |
4,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-18.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±6.2Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
24.5±2.9Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
34.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,063±$18k about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$53,281±$11kLowest 34% below 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 | $230,000±$18k 31% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$119,400±$8kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $773±$328Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$818±$147 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,990 28% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$3,132Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±40.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #371 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | MORRISVILLE-EATON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.