What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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

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	Reading	Hector
People
Population	1,637Lowest	4,850Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY	51.1±4Highest 28% 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	17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	18%±3.8Highest 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+	21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%	25%±5Highest 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+	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	36.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.6Lowest 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	$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average	$79,904±$19kLowest 7% below NY
	Reading and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY	$218,700±$32kHighest 48% 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	$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY	$1,083±$525Lowest 33% 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	$3,219Lowest 51% below NY	$4,072Highest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%	15.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.6%±4.8Highest 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.