What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).

Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jericho	Salem
People
Population	5,114Highest	2,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S.	47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S.
	Jericho and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jericho and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jericho and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S.	$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S.	$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S.	$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,318Highest 135% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jericho and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Jericho 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	#6 of 70 in VT	#376 of 484 in NY
School district	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Mt. Mansfield Union High School	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	8.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.