Compare towns
Hebron vs Chester vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hebron has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Hebron | Chester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,751Lowest |
2,992Highest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Hebron and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,205±$4k 9% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Salem and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,800±$26k 38% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Chester and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$120Highest 25% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Hebron and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.7%±67.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Highest |
8.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.