What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lenox has the most affordable homes ($162k median).

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	Hector	Lenox
People
Population	4,850Lowest	8,658Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.1±4Highest 28% above NY	45.1±2Lowest 13% above NY
	Hector and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lenox 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%	21.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hector and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±1Highest NY: 7%
	Lenox and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,904±$19kHighest 7% below NY	$75,900±$8kLowest 12% below NY
	Hector and Lenox 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	$161,600±$9kLowest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY	$935±$83Lowest 42% below NY
	Hector and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,072Lowest 38% below NY	$4,184Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	38.5%±9.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	15.6%Highest NY: 14%	10.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 18% below NY	25 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%	8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hector and Lenox 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	—	#412 of 484 in NY
School district	—	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.6
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.