Compare towns
Reading vs Lyons 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%).
Lyons has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Lyons | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,637Lowest |
5,594Highest |
4,850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
41.1±5.4Lowest 3% 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% |
25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest 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% |
21%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
36.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 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 |
$74,524±$12kLowest 13% below NY |
$79,904±$19k 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±$37k 62% below NY |
$98,400±$12kLowest 77% 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 |
$920±$111Lowest 43% 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 | $3,219 51% below NY |
$2,998Lowest 54% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
35.6%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.3% NY: 14% |
15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% NY: 54.3% |
74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±8.3 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #388 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.