Compare towns
Peru vs Salem vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Peru | Salem | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434 |
2,611Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Peru and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,233Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Peru 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 |
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.