Compare towns
Hebron vs Wells 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 oldest population (median age 52.2).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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.
| Measure | Hebron | Wells | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,751 |
1,148Lowest |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Hebron and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Salem and Wells 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. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Wells and Hebron 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. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Wells and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.7%±67.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.