Compare towns
Cambridge vs Jay 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Salem has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Jay | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,262 |
471Lowest |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±6.2Lowest 21% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Jay and Salem 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Cambridge 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.3%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Salem and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
| Jay 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. |
— | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,111Highest 64% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.