Compare towns

Rupert vs Sandgate vs Pawlet 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).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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.

MeasureRupertSandgatePawletSalem
People
Population
676
435Lowest
1,480
2,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.8±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
55.7±5.4
43% above U.S.
47.9±7.5
23% 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%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Pawlet and Salem 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%
26%±11.3
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawlet and Sandgate 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.
$69,167±$19k
14% below U.S.
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% 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.
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
$266,200±$44k
20% below U.S.
$196,000±$26k
41% below U.S.
Rupert and Pawlet 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±$40Lowest
33% 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
$4,594Highest
47% above U.S.
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
$3,924
26% above U.S.
$3,908
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.6%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±7.1Highest
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
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
10%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1964Highest
16 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
27 min
3% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±9.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±12.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate 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
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.