Compare towns
Waltham vs Salem vs Rupert
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 highest household income ($98k).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
2,611Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Rupert 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% |
42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert 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. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Highest 22% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Waltham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest 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 | — |
| 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 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.