Compare towns
Hector vs Reading vs Scriba
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Scriba has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Reading | Scriba |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,850 |
1,637Lowest |
6,603Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
46.3±3.1Lowest 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% |
17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Scriba 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% |
21.5%±2 NY: 17.9% |
18%±4.3Lowest 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% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.2%±0.8Lowest 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±$9k about the NY average |
$92,036±$17kHighest 7% above NY |
| Scriba and Reading 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±$37k 62% below NY |
$158,700±$10kLowest 63% 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 |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$980±$67Lowest 40% 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 |
$3,649 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±13.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 minLowest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±2.4Lowest 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 | 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.