Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety95#805/15,637
Economy84#2,429/15,631
Housing13#13,095/14,977
Health99#231/15,609
Healthcare98#348/15,650
Environment52#7,417/15,453
Education85#2,420/15,649
Infrastructure88#1,802/15,650
Community90#1,546/15,651
Leisure & amenities97#422/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Dobbs Ferry, New York ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Westchester County value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Public transit commuters · high15.2%
99/100New York 21.6%United States 3.2%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B08301
Traffic deaths · low4.1 /100k
99/100New York 5.6 /100kUnited States 12.3 /100k2020-2024National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationProvisional dataWestchester County value
Access to exercise opportunities · high99.7%
98/100New York 93.1%United States 84.5%2022 & 2024University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteWestchester County value
Injury deaths · low45 /100k
98/100New York 64 /100kUnited States 87 /100k2019-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteWestchester County value
Life expectancy · high83.3 yrs
98/100New York 80.4 yrsUnited States 77.6 yrs2021-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteWestchester County value
Grocery stores · high3.6 /10k
97/100New York 3.4 /10kUnited States 1.7 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWestchester County value

Weaknesses

Average commute time · high32.7 min
3/100New York 32.6 minUnited States 26.4 min2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B08013
Effective property tax rate · high1.85%
10/100New York 1.30%United States 0.94%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25090
High ozone days · high6 days
13/100New York 4 daysUnited States 7 days2022Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyWestchester County value
Time spent in the emergency room · high206 min
18/100New York 202 minUnited States 170 minOct 2024–Sep 2025Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesWestchester County value
Home price to income ratio · high4.6×
19/100New York 4.9×United States 4.1×2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25077
High school diploma or higher · low94.2%
21/100New York 88.0%United States 89.6%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B15003

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

New homes permittedWorsening
2.6 /1k (2021) → 0.5 /1k (Sep 2025–Aug 2026)
−80%5 yearsUS 5.2 /1k → 4.2 /1k
Rent-burdened householdsWorsening
41.6% (2015-2019) → 51.1% (2020-2024)
+9.5 pts5 yearsCensus table B25070US 49.6% → 51.1%
Public transit commutersWorsening
23.9% (2015-2019) → 15.2% (2020-2024)
−8.7 pts5 yearsCensus table B08301US 5.0% → 3.2%
Rent as share of incomeWorsening
26.1% (2015-2019) → 31.6% (2020-2024)
+5.5 pts5 yearsCensus table B25071US 29.8% → 30.6%
Broadband subscriptionsImproving
93.6% (2015-2019) → 98.4% (2020-2024)
+4.8 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Bachelor's degree or higherImproving
65.4% (2015-2019) → 69.7% (2020-2024)
+4.4 pts5 yearsCensus table B15003US 32.1% → 35.7%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Dobbs Ferry, New York improved on 0 of 14 measures with a comparison and declined on 1. 13 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved0

No measure improved by more than its margin of error.

Declined1

Transit use−8.7 points23.9% → 15.2%

All 14 measures

Change of every measure of Dobbs Ferry, New York between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	34.8 min2015-2019	32.7 min2020-2024	−2.1 min	Within the margin of error	71%
Bachelor's degree or higher	65.4%2015-2019	69.7%2020-2024	+4.4 points	Within the margin of error	63%
Broadband subscriptions	93.6%2015-2019	98.4%2020-2024	+4.8 points	Within the margin of error	30%
Effective property tax rate	2.08%2015-2019	1.85%2020-2024	−0.2 points	Within the margin of error	64%
High school diploma or higher	95.6%2015-2019	94.2%2020-2024	−1.3 points	Within the margin of error	20%
Home price to income ratio	4.7×2015-2019	4.6×2020-2024	−0.1×	Within the margin of error	81%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.4852015-2019	0.4512020-2024	−0.034	Within the margin of error	77%
Median household income	$143,4622015-2019	$165,4172020-2024	+15%	Within the margin of error	24%
Poverty rate	3.4%2015-2019	6.6%2020-2024	+3.2 points	Within the margin of error	19%
Public transit commuters	23.9%2015-2019	15.2%2020-2024	−8.7 points	Declined	3%
Rent as share of income	26.1%2015-2019	31.6%2020-2024	+5.5 points	Within the margin of error	20%
Rent-burdened households	41.6%2015-2019	51.1%2020-2024	+9.5 points	Within the margin of error	25%
Unemployment rate	5.1%2015-2019	5.0%2020-2024	−0.2 points	Within the margin of error	53%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	1.9%2015-2019	3.6%2020-2024	+1.7 points	Within the margin of error	27%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Dobbs Ferry, New York five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Dobbs Ferry, New York in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Dobbs Ferry, New York itself moved −4.8 points in standing on average over the same 10 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

11,443 residents (±29)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79†
60–69†
50–59
40–49
30–39†
20–29†
10–19†
Under 10†

Share of all residents, each sex

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: 10–19 women (−2.4 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

11,443 residents (±29)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

White67%7,711
Black2.4%†269
Hispanic or Latino12%1,430
Asian12%†1,399
American Indian and Alaska Native0.0%0
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander0.0%0
Other or two or more races5.5%†634

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Asian (+6.3 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B03002View table on data.census.gov

Education

7,825 residents (±384)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

No high school diploma5.8%†451
High school or GED9.8%†766
Some college11%†871
Associate degree3.6%†281
Bachelor's degree28%2,192
Graduate degree42%3,264

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B15003View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

3,962 households (±267)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

Under $25k6.7%†267
$25k–50k7.0%†278
$50k–75k9.4%†372
$75k–100k9.3%†370
$100k–150k16%626
$150k–200k16%†625
$200k or more36%1,424

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

3,962 households (±267)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

Own64%2,532
Rent36%1,430

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

1,346 households (±288)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

Under $7500.0%0
$750–1,0000.0%0
$1,000–1,5005.4%†73

Home values

2,532 homes (±256)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

Under $150k3.3%†83
$150k–250k1.5%†39
$250k–400k12%†302

Age of homes

4,232 homes (±302)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

2010 or later4.9%†209
2000–20096.2%†262
1980–199911%†474

Size of homes

4,232 homes (±302)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

Studio0.9%†39
1 bedroom19%824
2 bedrooms26%1,083

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

5,964 workers (±433)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

Drive alone43%2,541
Carpool6.0%†358
Public transit15%905
Walk5.9%†349
Bike0.5%†28
Work from home26%1,576
Other3.5%†207

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Work from home (+21.2 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

4,388 workers (±426)

Dobbs Ferry, New York
New York share

Under 15 min27%1,200
15–29 min21%909
30–44 min17%†746

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Westchester County, the county holding most of Dobbs Ferry's residents.

Westchester County has 31,174 employer establishments, 312 for every 10,000 residents (1.26× the US rate of 248; 1.14× New York's), with 389,560 paid employees at an average annual pay of $85,148. The Census Bureau also counts 115,574 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 31,174; 115,574 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 312; US 248 · New York 274
Paid employees: 389,560
Average annual pay: $85,148; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Westchester County by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Ambulatory health care services	2,506	25.1	1.20×About typical	39,837	$69,850	8,193
Specialty trade contractors	2,318	23.2	1.50×More than typical	20,005	$79,851	5,305
Restaurants and other eating places	2,240	22.4	1.22×About typical	26,931	$30,753	527
Lessors of real estate	1,996	20	1.62×More than typical	7,180	$75,856	16,874
Construction of buildings	1,374	13.8	1.82×More than typical	6,200	$90,557	2,613
Services to buildings and dwellings	1,237	12.4	1.84×More than typical	8,566	$48,255	4,985
Full-service restaurants	1,065	10.7	1.39×More than typical	15,335	$35,054	286
Personal care services	1,007	10.1	2.11×More than typical	4,422	$27,563	2,693
Management, scientific and technical consulting	957	9.6	1.43×More than typical	6,680	$160,976	6,568
Building equipment contractors	912	9.1	1.52×More than typical	7,699	$84,352	1,002
Legal services	891	8.9	1.66×More than typical	4,832	$113,561	2,641
Landscaping services	847	8.5	2.42×More than typical	3,073	$67,198	1,034

Rank places for an industry Open Westchester County

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 998,335 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

In FY2026, an estimated $0 of federal contract obligations were for work performed in Dobbs Ferry, New York: $0 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $0
Per resident: $0; US $1,994
Sole-source: —; US 30%
Single offer: —; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

-4.2KFY2017
0FY2018
0FY2021

What was bought

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

How this is estimated

Agencies report each contract action's place of performance as a county and a ZIP code. A ZIP code's money is split among the cities it covers by the share of its land inside each (Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation areas); the part outside city limits stays with the county.

The place of performance is what the contracting agency reports, often the contractor's office rather than where the work happens.
Shares are of land, not of people or businesses: a ZIP code that is mostly rural land but has its offices in town gives the town less than it should.
ZIP codes that are not mapped areas (post office boxes, the unique ZIP codes of large federal sites and companies) stay with their county, unless one city covers nearly all of it.
Counts of actions and awards include those only partly in Dobbs Ferry, New York, so they do not add up across cities.

Dobbs Ferry, New York's figures are part of those of Westchester County, NY ($603.8M in FY2026), never added to them: 0.0% of that total.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Dobbs Ferry is mostly in Westchester County.

See federal money in Westchester County

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Dobbs Ferry, New York is split between congressional districts: each representative is shown with the share of its residents in their district (current boundaries).