What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rumney	Dorset
People
Population	1,458Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.	45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Dorset and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dorset and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rumney and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rumney and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Dorset and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S.	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average
	Dorset and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.	$7,489Highest 140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dorset and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Rumney School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.