Compare towns
Salem vs Andover vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Rupert 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 | Salem | Andover | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
616Lowest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Rupert 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 3% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
| Andover and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
| Andover and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | 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.