Compare towns
Salem vs Dummerston vs Alexandria
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 housing (typical home built 1938).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Alexandria has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
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 | Dummerston | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
2,090Lowest |
3,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49.5±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Alexandria and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alexandria and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alexandria 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 3% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$85,020±$20k 5% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Alexandria 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$172,500±$19kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$730±$174Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,883Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | #303 of 484 in NY |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | ALEXANDRIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | ALEXANDRIA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.