Compare towns
Jackson vs Putney 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Salem 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Salem and Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165 34% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None 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 |
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.