Compare towns
Ira vs Salem vs Sandgate vs Jay
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 most expensive homes ($273k median).
Salem has the most renters (22.9% rent).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Sandgate | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
2,611Highest |
435 |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below 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 | $272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$948±$40Highest 33% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Salem and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% 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% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Jay 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| 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 | 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.