Compare towns
Ira vs Salem vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k 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.
| Measure | Ira | Salem | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381 |
2,611Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Salem and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,233Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Mount Tabor 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 Our Story | 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.