What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

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	Wayne
People
Population	4,850Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.1±4Lowest 28% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
Kids under 18	18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Hector and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Hector and Wayne 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	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne 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±$32kLowest 48% below NY	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY	$1,031±$304Lowest 36% below NY
	Hector and Wayne 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	$3,967Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hector and Wayne 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%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 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%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hector and Wayne 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.