What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Wayne	Hector
People
Population	1,033Lowest	4,850Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	51.1±4Lowest 28% above NY
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Hector and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	25%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	36.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Hector and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY	$79,904±$19kLowest 7% below NY
	Wayne and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY	$218,700±$32kLowest 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	$1,031±$304Lowest 36% below NY	$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY
	Hector and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,967Lowest 40% below NY	$4,072Highest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Lowest 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	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%	15.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 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	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hector and Wayne 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.