What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Preble	Hector
People
Population	1,150Lowest	4,850Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.8±8.8Lowest 13% above NY	51.1±4Highest 28% 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	21.1%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%	18%±3.8Lowest 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+	29%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%	25%±5Lowest 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+	37.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	36.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.6Lowest 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	$82,083±$20kHighest 5% below NY	$79,904±$19kLowest 7% 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	$176,700±$27kLowest 58% below NY	$218,700±$32kHighest 48% 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	$1,278±$194Highest 21% below NY	$1,083±$525Lowest 33% 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	$4,323Highest 34% below NY	$4,072Lowest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1%	81.7%±21.3Lowest 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	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%	15.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 16% below NY	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	16.7%±6Highest NY: 14.9%	13.6%±4.8Lowest 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.