Compare towns
Hector vs Lyons 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).
Lyons has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
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 | Lyons | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,850 |
5,594Highest |
1,637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY |
46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
| Hector and Reading 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% |
25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2 NY: 17.9% |
| Hector and Reading 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% |
21%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Reading 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±$19k 7% below NY |
$74,524±$12kLowest 13% 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 |
$98,400±$12kLowest 77% 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 |
$920±$111Lowest 43% 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 |
$2,998Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,219 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.6%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
14.3% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±8.3 NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Lyons 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 | — | #388 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.