What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).

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	Whitingham
People
Population	2,611Highest	1,368Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.	46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Salem and Whitingham 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%	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Whitingham and Salem 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%	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Whitingham 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.	$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Salem and Whitingham 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.	$262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$40Highest 33% below U.S.	$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.	$5,055Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham 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%	15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Whitingham 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	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.5Highest	7.8Lowest
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.