Compare towns
Reading vs Hector vs Preble
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Preble has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Hector | Preble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,637 |
4,850Highest |
1,150Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
44.8±8.8Lowest 13% 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%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
21.1%±4.3Highest 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+ | 21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
29%±4.1Highest 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+ | 37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Preble and Reading 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 |
$82,083±$20k 5% below NY |
| Reading and Preble 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 |
$176,700±$27k 58% 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 | $1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$1,083±$525Lowest 33% below NY |
$1,278±$194 21% below NY |
| Reading and Preble 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 |
$4,072 38% below NY |
$4,323Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
92.7%±13.9Highest 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 | 5.6% NY: 14% |
15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
5.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 minLowest 18% below NY |
27 min 16% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
16.7%±6Highest 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 | 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.