Compare towns
Salem vs Williston vs Cambridge
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 homeowners (77.1%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Cambridge has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Williston | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
10,144Highest |
2,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.9±6.2 21% above U.S. |
| Salem and Cambridge 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.3%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cambridge and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$72,612±$22kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Williston 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±$26k 41% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,164±$142 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,111 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.