Compare towns
Hebron vs Plainfield vs Worcester 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%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Salem has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Plainfield | Worcester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,751 |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Hebron and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Salem and Worcester 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. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$120 25% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hebron 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. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.7%±67.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | None 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 | 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.