Compare towns
Jackson vs Sutton vs Salem vs Meredith
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).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
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 | Sutton | Salem | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,695 |
790Lowest |
2,611Highest |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6 40% 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% 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±$40kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Sutton 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. |
— | $948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Highest 34% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Sutton 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.