What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hector has the most expensive homes ($219k median).

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.

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

Measure	Hector	Reading
People
Population	4,850Highest	1,637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.1±4Highest 28% above NY	46.3±6.4Lowest 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%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±2.9Lowest 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%±5Highest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±2Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±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±$19kLowest 7% 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	$160,200±$37kLowest 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±$525Lowest 33% 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	$3,219Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	15.6%Highest NY: 14%	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hector and Reading 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.