Compare towns
Salem vs Dorset vs Cambridge
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 oldest population (median age 47.5).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Cambridge has the most renters (26.1% rent).
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 | Dorset | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
2,092Lowest |
2,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.9±6.2 21% above U.S. |
| Salem and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.3%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cambridge and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$72,612±$22kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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±$26k 41% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,164±$142 18% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,111 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Dorset 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% |
11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| 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.