Compare towns

Hancock vs Salem vs Ripton

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).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).

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.

MeasureHancockSalemRipton
People
Population
435Lowest
2,611Highest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.8±11.6Lowest
13% below U.S.
47.5±4.2
22% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% 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%
16.2%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
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%
22.9%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
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%
31.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,250±$34kLowest
6% below U.S.
$83,398±$12k
3% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$187,900±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$196,000±$26k
41% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above 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.
$3,908
25% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±7.1
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
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%
17.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±12.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
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 — SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — SALEM HIGH SCHOOL None in town
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.