What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Preble has the most people working from home (16.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hector	Preble
People
Population	4,850Highest	1,150Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.1±4Highest 28% above NY	44.8±8.8Lowest 13% above NY
	Hector and Preble 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%	21.1%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Preble and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%	29%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Preble 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7%
	Preble 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±$19kLowest 7% below NY	$82,083±$20kHighest 5% below NY
	Preble 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	$176,700±$27kLowest 58% below NY
	Hector and Preble are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$525Lowest 33% below NY	$1,278±$194Highest 21% below NY
	Preble and Hector 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	$4,323Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.7%±21.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Preble and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.6%Highest NY: 14%	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	86%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	27 minHighest 16% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.7%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Preble and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.