What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fair Haven	Salem
People
Population	2,724Highest	2,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.
	Salem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fair Haven and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fair Haven and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S.	$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Salem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S.	$196,000±$26kHighest 41% below U.S.
	Salem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S.	$948±$40Highest 33% below U.S.
	Salem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S.	$3,908Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fair Haven and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 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	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	8.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.