Compare towns
Salem vs Putney vs Richmond
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%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Putney | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Lowest |
2,622 |
3,331Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50±4.5Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Richmond 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Richmond 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$79,150±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$215,400±$31k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,252±$167Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,409Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56%±32.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Richmond and Putney 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #272 of 484 in NY |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | HONEOYE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | HONEOYE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5Highest |
— | 7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.