Compare towns
Peru vs Jay vs Mount Tabor 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 most renters (21% rent).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Jay | Mount Tabor | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434 |
2,354Highest |
304Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.8±4.6 25% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Jay 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% |
16%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Jay 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% |
25.3%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Jay 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% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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. |
$72,380±$19kLowest 10% below 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. |
$196,900±$22kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,272±$366 10% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,741Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,233 68% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.4%±21.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Peru 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% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school 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.