Compare towns
Salem vs Worcester vs Alexandria
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 kids (16.2% under 18).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Alexandria has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Worcester | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
831Lowest |
3,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
49.5±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Alexandria and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Alexandria 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alexandria 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Alexandria 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$85,020±$20kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Alexandria 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. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$172,500±$19kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S. |
$730±$174Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,883Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Alexandria 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Salem 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 | — | #303 of 484 in NY |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | ALEXANDRIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | ALEXANDRIA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.