Compare towns
Hancock vs Ripton 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
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k 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 | Hancock | Ripton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
508 |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hancock and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 34% below U.S. |
— | $948±$40Highest 33% below U.S. |
| Salem and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.