Compare towns
Peru vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($202k median).
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 | Lancaster | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
10,113Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Peru 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% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Peru 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% |
26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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. |
$66,148±$7kLowest 18% 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. |
$202,200±$16kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$969±$169Lowest 31% 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. |
$4,932Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lancaster 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | — | 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 |
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.