Compare towns
Sandgate vs Salem vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Salem has the highest household income ($83k).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Sandgate | Salem | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,611Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wheelock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Salem and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kHighest 41% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Salem and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$40 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.