Compare towns
Hector vs Lee 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 kids (18% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Lee | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,850 |
6,074Highest |
1,637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4 28% above NY |
52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
| Lee and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Hector and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
25.9%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Lee and Hector 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% |
29.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Lee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,904±$19kLowest 7% below NY |
$94,137±$6kHighest 9% above NY |
$86,131±$9k about the NY average |
| Lee and Reading 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 |
$217,700±$20k 49% below NY |
$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY |
| Hector and Lee 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 |
$936±$41Lowest 42% 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 |
$3,362 49% below NY |
$3,219Lowest 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
21.4%±27.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% NY: 54.3% |
93.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
22 minLowest 32% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #435 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.