Compare towns
Salem vs Sandgate 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 highest household income ($83k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sandgate | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
435Lowest |
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±4.2 22% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.9±6.2Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate 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% |
37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.3%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cambridge and Sandgate 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 3% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$72,612±$22k 10% below U.S. |
| Salem and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26kHighest 41% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Salem and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,164±$142Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,111Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Salem 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 Our Story | 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.