Compare towns
Pawlet vs Salem vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Pawlet | Salem | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Lowest |
2,611Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 23% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Pawlet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pawlet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 26% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Salem 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.