Compare towns
Argyle vs Jackson vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Argyle has the most kids (21% under 18).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Argyle | Jackson | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,636Highest |
1,695Lowest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.9 26% above NY |
56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY |
| Jackson and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.2%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Argyle and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5 NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Jackson and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
2%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Argyle and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,000±$14k 3% below NY |
$77,375±$8kLowest 10% below NY |
$83,398±$12kHighest about the NY average |
| Salem and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,300±$26kHighest 41% below NY |
$235,400±$40k 44% below NY |
$196,000±$26kLowest 54% below NY |
| Argyle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,068±$124 34% below NY |
$1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY |
$948±$40Lowest 42% below NY |
| Jackson and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,324Highest 19% below NY |
$4,165 37% below NY |
$3,908Lowest 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±49.4 NY: 52.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Jackson and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
17.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NY: 54.3% |
91.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
34 min 5% above NY |
29 minLowest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.6%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Salem and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #343 of 484 in NY | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | ARGYLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | ARGYLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | 8.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.