Compare towns
Salem vs Stratton vs Jackson
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%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Stratton | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
532Lowest |
1,695 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Jackson 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. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Stratton 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±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Jackson 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 History | 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.