Compare towns

Rupert vs Jay vs Sandgate vs Salem

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Salem has the most renters (22.9% rent).

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.

MeasureRupertJaySandgateSalem
People
Population
676
471
435Lowest
2,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.8±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
52.1±10.5
34% above U.S.
55.7±5.4
43% above U.S.
47.5±4.2Lowest
22% above U.S.
Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Salem and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
42.3%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±11.3
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Sandgate and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,229±$36kHighest
9% above U.S.
$74,792±$25k
7% below U.S.
$69,167±$19kLowest
14% below U.S.
$83,398±$12k
3% above U.S.
Rupert and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,500±$63kHighest
9% above U.S.
$234,200±$45k
30% below U.S.
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
$196,000±$26k
41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — — —
$948±$40
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,594Highest
47% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
$3,908
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salem and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±9.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±12.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate and Jay 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 — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District — SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town — SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
8.5
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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.