Compare towns
Peru vs Jackson vs Windham 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).
Jackson has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Jackson | Windham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,695 |
594 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Dorset 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% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Windham 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% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Windham 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% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Peru 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. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$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. |
$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Peru 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. |
$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Dorset 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school 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.