Compare towns
Salem vs Sandgate vs Williston
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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.
| Measure | Salem | Sandgate | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
435Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Salem 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| 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.