Compare towns
Waltham vs Salem vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
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 | Waltham | Salem | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
2,611 |
2,661Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ferrisburgh and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waltham and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$422,700±$35kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,435±$173Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714 83% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$6,120Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ferrisburgh and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Waltham 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 | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| 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.