Compare towns
Salem vs Peru 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%).
Peru has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
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 | Peru | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
434Lowest |
2,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Lowest 16% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Peru 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% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest 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. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$72,612±$22kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Peru 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. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,164±$142 18% below U.S. |
| Peru 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,111Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Cambridge 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.