Dorchester's Cost Of Living Advantage

We've said it before: Dorchester has a lot going for it if you prefer living in a safe, friendly and affordable small-town community.  A new K-12 school with top-notch staff; a new water delivery system; and a quick drive to many employers in Crete, Milford, Friend and Seward, and just 25 minutes to Lincoln.  

But perhaps one of Dorchester's biggest benefits is its affordable cost-of-living, with the lowest school tax levy rates in the county and one of the lower property rates in southeast Nebraska.

The Dorchester Times has run the numbers.  Those numbers show that couples and individuals living in Lincoln or Omaha -- especially if they desire a close-knit, smaller community and saving money for the future -- may want to consider relocating to Dorchester.  Here's why:

Dorchester's Vs. Lincoln's Cost of Living

Dorchester's median home cost is $87,800 compared to Lincoln's $148,600.  So a couple or individual could live in the same quality of home in Dorchester for roughly $60,000 less, right up front.  

Then, over a decade, that couple would save roughly $17,000 on property taxes, according to tax data.

Over 10 years, a couple or individual would save roughly $77,000 just on housing costs and property taxes by moving from Lincoln to Dorchester.  What could you do with an extra $77,000? (Remember, this is just the average.)

Of course, this doesn't include the intangibles such as safety, quality of a child's upbringing, knowing your neighbors, peace and quiet, etc.

Dorchester's Vs. Omaha's Cost of Living

Omaha's median home cost is $155,000 compared to Dorchester's $87,800.  A couple or individual could live in the same grade of home in Dorchester for roughly $67,000 less, right up front.

Then, over a course of 10 years, that couple would save roughly $21,000 on property taxes (Sarpy County is even higher than Douglas County).

After a decade, a couple or individual would save roughly $88,000 just on housing and property taxes by moving from Omaha to Dorchester.  That savings would buy you another median-priced home in Dorchester, which could be used for rental income.

While a small town cannot compete in the area of amenities with cities that have populations over 250,000, there is a cost-of-living advantage that cannot be denied.