Compare towns
Jackson vs Lincoln vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($235k median).
Lincoln has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Jackson | Lincoln | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Lowest |
1,749 |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% NY: +4.2% |
-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
53.6±2.3 35% above NY |
47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY |
| Jackson and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.3%±2.5 NY: 20.5% |
16.2%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Salem and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
29.4%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Jackson and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% NY: 40.2% |
34.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Lincoln and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$8kLowest 10% below NY |
$96,100±$12kHighest 12% above NY |
$83,398±$12k about the NY average |
| Lincoln and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$40kHighest 44% below NY |
$202,100±$25k 52% below NY |
$196,000±$26kLowest 54% below NY |
| Jackson and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43 30% below NY |
$1,196±$309Highest 26% below NY |
$948±$40Lowest 42% below NY |
| Lincoln and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Highest 37% below NY |
$3,800Lowest 42% below NY |
$3,908 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
47.2%±65 NY: 52.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Jackson and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NY: 14% |
6.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NY: 54.3% |
93.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 5% above NY |
27 minLowest 18% below NY |
29 min 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
7.4%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Salem and Jackson 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.