Compare towns
Salem vs Argyle vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Argyle | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
3,636Highest |
1,695Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY |
50.1±3.9 26% above NY |
56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
| Jackson and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
21%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±5 NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Jackson and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% NY: 40.2% |
25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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±$14k 3% below NY |
$77,375±$8kLowest 10% 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 |
$235,400±$40k 44% below NY |
| Argyle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,068±$124 34% below NY |
$1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY |
| Jackson and Argyle 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 |
$4,165 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45%±49.4 NY: 52.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Jackson and Argyle 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% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
91.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% below NY |
36 minHighest 11% above NY |
34 min 5% above NY |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
| Salem and Jackson 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 | #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 | 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.