Compare towns
Hebron vs Reading 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%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Reading | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,751 |
699Lowest |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Hebron and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Salem 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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±$4kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Reading and Salem 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$120 25% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.7%±67.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.