Compare towns
Buchanan vs Reading vs Montrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buchanan has the most expensive homes ($526k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
Montrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Buchanan | Reading | Montrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,397 |
1,637Lowest |
3,717Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+4.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 38.5±3.5 3% below NY |
46.3±6.4Highest 16% above NY |
31.2±9Lowest 22% below 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% |
21.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Buchanan and Montrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
48.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
15%±8.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Montrose and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,218±$23k 49% above NY |
$86,131±$9kLowest about the NY average |
$145,320±$22kHighest 69% above NY |
| Montrose and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,500±$55kHighest 24% above NY |
$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY |
$422,700±$37k about the NY average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,953±$836 20% above NY |
$1,507±$514Lowest 7% below NY |
$2,244±$907Highest 38% above NY |
| Montrose and Buchanan 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 |
$7,067 7% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34%±23 NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±28.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Montrose and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 same as NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
28 minLowest 13% below NY |
31 min 4% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.2%±6 NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Montrose and Buchanan 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.