Compare towns
Salem vs Sandgate vs Middlesex vs Rupert
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 renters (22.9% rent).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Middlesex | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
435Lowest |
1,943 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Rupert 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. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Rupert 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. |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Rupert 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.