Compare towns
Hector vs Preble 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).
Preble has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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 | Preble | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,850Highest |
1,150Lowest |
1,637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
44.8±8.8Lowest 13% 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% |
21.1%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9Lowest 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%±5 NY: 17.9% |
29%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Preble 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 |
$82,083±$20k 5% below NY |
$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average |
| Reading and Preble 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±$27k 58% below NY |
$160,200±$37kLowest 62% 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±$194 21% below NY |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
| Reading and Preble are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,072 38% below NY |
$4,323Highest 34% below NY |
$3,219Lowest 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest 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% |
5.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86% NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 18% below NY |
27 min 16% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
16.7%±6Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6Lowest 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 | 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.