What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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	Exeter	Reading
People
Population	913Lowest	1,637Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY	46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY
	Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±10.5Highest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,550±$19kLowest 10% below NY	$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average
	Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY	$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY
	Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$44Lowest 47% below NY	$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,926Lowest 56% below NY	$3,219Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±19.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%	5.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 12% below NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Exeter 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.