Compare towns
Salem vs Mendon 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 most people working from home (22.8%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cambridge has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
1,113Lowest |
2,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
46.9±6.2Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Salem 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.3%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cambridge and Mendon 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. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$72,612±$22kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,164±$142 18% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$5,111 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
84.7%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Cambridge 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Mendon 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 | 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.