What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).

Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Fair Haven
People
Population	2,611Lowest	2,724Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.	39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average
	Salem and Fair Haven 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%	19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Fair Haven and Salem 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%	18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 35.7%	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fair Haven 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 3% above U.S.	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S.
	Salem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,000±$26kHighest 41% below U.S.	$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S.
	Salem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$40Highest 33% below U.S.	$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S.
	Salem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Highest 25% above U.S.	$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fair Haven and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#376 of 484 in NY	#66 of 70 in VT
School district	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.5Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.