Compare towns

Hebron vs Salem vs Williston

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%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureHebronSalemWilliston
People
Population
1,751Lowest
2,611
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.2±4.2Highest
34% above U.S.
47.5±4.2
22% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% 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%
16.2%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Williston 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%
22.9%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
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%
31.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston 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.
$83,398±$12k
3% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
Williston 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.
$196,000±$26kLowest
41% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,055±$120
25% below U.S.
$948±$40Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,183
34% above U.S.
$3,908Lowest
25% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.7%±67.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±7.1
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston 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%
17.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±12.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Salem and Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT
School district — SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town — SALEM HIGH SCHOOL None in town
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.