Compare towns
Roxbury vs Dorset vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Roxbury | Dorset | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
2,092Highest |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219kLowest about the U.S. average |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787 86% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Dorset 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 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.