Compare towns
Starks vs Dorset vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($134k median).
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 | Starks | Dorset | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556 |
2,092Highest |
444Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.1±5.8 19% above U.S. |
| Starks and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$62,500±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27k 55% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$133,900±$56kLowest 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$988±$111Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$1,655 47% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±94.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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.