What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buchanan has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Reading has the most affordable homes ($160k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Buchanan	Reading
People
Population	2,397Highest	1,637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	+0.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.5±3.5Lowest 3% below NY	46.3±6.4Highest 16% above NY
	Reading and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Buchanan and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Reading and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	37.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	4.2%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Buchanan and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,218±$23kHighest 49% above NY	$86,131±$9kLowest about the NY average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,500±$55kHighest 24% above NY	$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,953±$836Highest 20% above NY	$1,507±$514Lowest 7% below NY
	Buchanan and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$3,219Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34%±23Highest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Buchanan and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest NY: 14%	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	14.2%±6Highest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Buchanan 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

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.