Compare towns
Hebron vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Salem has the most renters (22.9% rent).
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 | Needham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,751Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Hebron and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hebron and Salem 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,205±$4kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,800±$26k 38% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$120 25% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.7%±67.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Salem 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965 15 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% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Needham | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.5Lowest |
| 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.