Compare towns

Salem vs Sandgate 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%).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

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.

MeasureSalemSandgateRupert
People
Population
2,611Highest
435Lowest
676
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.5±4.2Lowest
22% above U.S.
55.7±5.4
43% 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%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.9%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Salem and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±11.3
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%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%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Sandgate and Rupert 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.
$88,229±$36kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rupert 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.
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
$362,500±$63kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$40
33% below U.S.
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,908
25% above U.S.
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
$4,594Highest
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%
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%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1959Highest
21 yrs older 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 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%
18.6%±9.2Lowest
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.