Compare towns
Salem vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Meredith | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
1,467Lowest |
1,695 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY |
54.3±4.6 36% above NY |
56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
17%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Meredith 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 NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±4 NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Jackson and Meredith 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% |
33.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
32.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.2 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±$12k about the NY average |
$85,938±$16kHighest about the NY average |
$77,375±$8kLowest 10% below NY |
| Meredith 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±$26kLowest 54% below NY |
$230,600±$24k 46% below NY |
$235,400±$40kHighest 44% below NY |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40 42% below NY |
$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 41% below NY |
$3,630Lowest 45% below NY |
$4,165Highest 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±53.6 NY: 52.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Jackson and Meredith 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% |
7.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
34 minHighest 5% above NY |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±3 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 | 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.