Compare towns
Hector vs Catharine vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hector has the most expensive homes ($219k median).
Catharine has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Hector | Catharine | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,850Highest |
1,370Lowest |
1,637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% NY: +4.2% |
-6.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
47.4±6.5 19% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Catharine and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% NY: 40.2% |
18.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Reading and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
$58,500±$15kLowest 32% below NY |
$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average |
| Reading and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY |
$144,900±$11kLowest 66% below NY |
$160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
| Hector and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$525 33% below NY |
$854±$117Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
| Reading and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,072Highest 38% below NY |
$2,675Lowest 59% below NY |
$3,219 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
60.5%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% NY: 14% |
20.7%Highest NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
25 minLowest 23% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | ODESSA-MONTOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.