Compare towns
Pawlet vs Salem vs Whitingham
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 most homeowners (87.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
2,611Highest |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 23% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet and Whitingham 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±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Salem and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Salem 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. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Pawlet 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.