Compare towns
Salem vs Sutton vs Wheelock
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($231k median).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sutton | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
790 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock 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% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wheelock and Sutton 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. |
$71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Salem and Sutton 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. |
$231,100±$41kHighest 31% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40 33% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,975Highest 27% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Sutton 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Wheelock 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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 |
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.