Compare towns
Reading vs Jerusalem vs Hector
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%).
Jerusalem has the most expensive homes ($321k median).
Hector has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Jerusalem | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,637Lowest |
4,278 |
4,850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
34±4.4Lowest 15% below 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Jerusalem and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2 NY: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.3Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
45.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
21.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,131±$9k about the NY average |
$86,780±$11kHighest about the NY average |
$79,904±$19kLowest 7% below NY |
| Jerusalem and Reading 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 |
$320,900±$59kHighest 24% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$870±$116Lowest 46% below NY |
$1,083±$525 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 |
$4,523Highest 31% below NY |
$4,072 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.3%±43.4 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.2% NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.9%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Jerusalem 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.