Compare towns
Salem vs Williston vs Richmond
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Richmond has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50±4.5Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Richmond 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Richmond 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Richmond 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Richmond 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. |
$79,150±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$215,400±$31k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,252±$167 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,409Lowest 9% 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% |
56%±32.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Richmond and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 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 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest 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 | #272 of 484 in NY |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | HONEOYE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | HONEOYE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5Highest |
— | 7.4Lowest |
| 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.