Compare towns
Jackson vs Meredith 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 oldest population (median age 56.9).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
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 | Meredith | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695 |
1,467Lowest |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
54.3±4.6 36% above NY |
47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY |
| Jackson and Meredith 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% |
17%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.2%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Meredith and Salem 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% |
30.8%±4 NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Jackson and Meredith 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% |
33.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 NY: 7% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Salem and Jackson 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 |
$85,938±$16kHighest about the NY average |
$83,398±$12k about the NY average |
| Meredith 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 |
$230,600±$24k 46% below NY |
$196,000±$26kLowest 54% below NY |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY |
$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY |
$948±$40 42% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Highest 37% below NY |
$3,630Lowest 45% below NY |
$3,908 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±53.6 NY: 52.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NY: 14% |
7.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NY: 54.3% |
92.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 5% above NY |
33 min about the NY average |
29 minLowest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest 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.