Compare towns
Cambridge vs Jackson vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
Bordering CambridgeCambridge
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($235k median).
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 | Jackson | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,262 |
1,695Lowest |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.3% NY: +4.2% |
-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.9±6.2Lowest 18% above NY |
56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
47.5±4.2 19% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.2%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Cambridge and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Jackson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
32.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.3%±6Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
2%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Cambridge and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,612±$22kLowest 16% below NY |
$77,375±$8k 10% below NY |
$83,398±$12kHighest about the NY average |
| Salem and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$32kLowest 54% below NY |
$235,400±$40kHighest 44% below NY |
$196,000±$26k 54% below NY |
| Jackson 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 28% below NY |
$1,139±$43 30% below NY |
$948±$40Lowest 42% below NY |
| Cambridge and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,111Highest 22% below NY |
$4,165 37% below NY |
$3,908Lowest 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 84.7%±20.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
77.8%±44.7 NY: 52.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Cambridge and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6% NY: 14% |
7.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
34 minHighest 5% above NY |
29 minLowest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7 NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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 |
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.