Compare towns
Peru vs Dummerston vs Union vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Peru | Dummerston | Union | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,090 |
2,663Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Peru and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.