Compare towns
Peru vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Salem | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,611Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Salem 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% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Salem 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% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% |
31.9%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% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Salem 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. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% 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. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% 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. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.