Compare towns
Salem vs Waltham 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 affordable homes ($196k median).
Waltham has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Jackson has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Waltham | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
452Lowest |
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±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6 46% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Jackson 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Jackson 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waltham and Salem 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. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Waltham 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. |
$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Waltham 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. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Waltham 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.