Compare towns
Cambridge vs Castleton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Cambridge | Castleton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,262Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±6.2 21% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Salem and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.3%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,612±$22kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Salem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$142Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,111Highest 64% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Cambridge 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| 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.