Compare towns
Salem vs Jackson
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%).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($235k 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 | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
1,695Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY |
56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Salem and Jackson 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% |
33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Jackson 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 NY: 40.2% |
32.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Salem and Jackson 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 about the NY average |
$77,375±$8kLowest 10% below NY |
| Salem and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26kLowest 54% below NY |
$235,400±$40kHighest 44% below NY |
| Jackson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 41% below NY |
$4,165Highest 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Jackson and Salem 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% |
7.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% below NY |
34 minHighest 5% above NY |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Salem and Jackson 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 | — |
| 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.