Compare towns
Salem vs Dummerston 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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Dummerston | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.3%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cambridge 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±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$72,612±$22kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,164±$142 18% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,111Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.