Compare towns
Salem vs Worcester vs Jackson
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).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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.
| Measure | Salem | Worcester | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611Highest |
831Lowest |
1,695 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Jackson 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% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$77,375±$8k 4% below U.S. |
| Salem and Jackson 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. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Jackson 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±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 | — | — |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.