Compare towns
Jackson vs Salem vs Lyme
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).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Salem | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Lowest |
2,611Highest |
2,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8% NY: +4.2% |
+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY |
56.8±6.1 43% above NY |
| Jackson and Lyme 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% |
16.2%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lyme and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.3 NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
36.2%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Lyme and Jackson 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% |
31.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
2%±1.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Lyme 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 |
$83,398±$12kHighest about the NY average |
$81,400±$5k 5% below NY |
| Salem and Lyme 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 |
$196,000±$26kLowest 54% below NY |
$234,700±$20k 45% below NY |
| Jackson and Lyme 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 |
$948±$40 42% below NY |
$838±$190Lowest 48% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Highest 37% below NY |
$3,908 41% below NY |
$3,442Lowest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
44.1%±7.1 NY: 52.1% |
32.7%±52Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Jackson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.6%Highest NY: 14% |
11.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NY: 54.3% |
77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 5% above NY |
29 min 10% below NY |
28 minLowest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
7%±4.1Lowest 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.