Compare towns
Reading vs Wayne 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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Hector has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Wayne | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,637 |
1,033Lowest |
4,850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
51.1±4 28% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest 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±$9k about the NY average |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$79,904±$19kLowest 7% below NY |
| Wayne 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 |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
| Wayne and Hector 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 |
$1,031±$304Lowest 36% 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 |
$3,967 40% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Wayne 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
27 minLowest 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest 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 | 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.