Compare towns
Brookline vs Salem vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Brookline | Salem | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,611Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Salem and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.