What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hebron has the most homeowners (95.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hebron	Salem
People
Population	1,751Lowest	2,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.2±4.2Highest 31% above NY	47.5±4.2Lowest 19% above NY
	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 NY: 20.5%	16.2%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Salem and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	22.9%±5.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	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%Highest NY: 40.2%	31.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±2Highest NY: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Hebron and Salem 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 15% below NY	$83,398±$12kHighest about the NY average
	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±$26kHighest 51% below NY	$196,000±$26kLowest 54% below NY
	Hebron and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$120Highest 35% below NY	$948±$40Lowest 42% below NY
	Hebron and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Highest 36% below NY	$3,908Lowest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.7%±67.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	44.1%±7.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	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%Lowest NY: 14%	17.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	12.3%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.8%±12.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Salem and Hebron 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 Our Story	None yet	None yet

NY 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.