Compare towns
Salem vs Aurelius
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%).
Aurelius has the shortest commute (19 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.
| Measure | Salem | Aurelius |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
2,593Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY |
49.1±4Highest 23% above NY |
| Aurelius 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% |
20.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Aurelius 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% |
25.7%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Aurelius 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% |
21.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Aurelius 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 |
$94,079±$16kHighest 9% above NY |
| Aurelius 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 |
$167,000±$14kLowest 61% below NY |
| Salem and Aurelius 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 |
$813±$200Lowest 50% below NY |
| Salem and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Highest 41% below NY |
$3,516Lowest 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
44%±17.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Salem and Aurelius 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% |
9.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| 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 |
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.