What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Waterville
People
Population	2,611Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S.	49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Waterville 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%	20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waterville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Waterville 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%	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville 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±$12kHighest 3% above U.S.	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Salem and Waterville 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.	$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S.
	Waterville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.	$3,957Highest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waterville 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%	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Waterville 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	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
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

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.