What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most expensive homes ($275k median).

Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Athens	Hector
People
Population	3,936Lowest	4,850Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.2±4.3Highest 31% above NY	51.1±4Lowest 28% above NY
	Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Hector and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.3%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%	25%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	36.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Hector and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,896±$14kHighest about the NY average	$79,904±$19kLowest 7% below NY
	Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,700±$31kHighest 35% below NY	$218,700±$32kLowest 48% below NY
	Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$480Highest 22% below NY	$1,083±$525Lowest 33% below NY
	Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,345Highest 34% below NY	$4,072Lowest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31%±12.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest NY: 14%	15.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	15.8%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	13.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Athens and Hector 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	#261 of 484 in NY	—
School district	COXSACKIE-ATHENS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.