Compare towns
Jackson vs Meredith vs Whitingham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Meredith has the highest household income ($86k).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Whitingham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,695 |
1,467 |
1,368Lowest |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitingham 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±$8k 4% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| 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±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
$794±$175 44% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165 34% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8Lowest |
8.5Highest |
| 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.