What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Argyle has the most kids (21% under 18).

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	Argyle
People
Population	2,611Lowest	3,636Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY	50.1±3.9Highest 26% above NY
	Argyle and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	21%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Argyle and Salem 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%	23.3%±5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Argyle 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%	25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Argyle 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±$12kHighest about the NY average	$83,000±$14kLowest 3% below NY
	Salem and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,000±$26kLowest 54% below NY	$249,300±$26kHighest 41% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$40Lowest 42% below NY	$1,068±$124Highest 34% below NY
	Argyle and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 41% below NY	$5,324Highest 19% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	45%±49.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Argyle 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 NY: 14%	4.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% below NY	36 minHighest 11% above NY
Work from home	22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9%	6.6%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#376 of 484 in NY	#343 of 484 in NY
School district	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ARGYLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL	ARGYLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.5Lowest	9.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.