What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).

Alexandria has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Alexandria
People
Population	2,611Lowest	3,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY	49.5±6.8Highest 24% above NY
	Alexandria and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	14.7%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Salem and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	28.4%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Alexandria and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	31.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	2.3%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Alexandria and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,398±$12kLowest about the NY average	$85,020±$20kHighest about the NY average
	Alexandria and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,000±$26kHighest 54% below NY	$172,500±$19kLowest 59% below NY
	Salem and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$40Highest 42% below NY	$730±$174Lowest 55% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Highest 41% below NY	$2,883Lowest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±7.1Highest NY: 52.1%	30.4%±10.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Salem and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest NY: 14%	7.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9%	7.7%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Salem and Alexandria 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	#303 of 484 in NY
School district	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ALEXANDRIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL	ALEXANDRIA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.5Lowest	9.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.