Compare towns
Hancock vs Reading vs Buckingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($161k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Buckingham has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hancock | Reading | Buckingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,769Highest |
699 |
465Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±5.7 40% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
56.1±7.1Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Buckingham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Buckingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buckingham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,243±$11k 23% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$53,958±$11kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Reading and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,100±$8kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$230,600±$52k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,052±$172 26% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$880±$102Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Reading and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,584Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
81.3%±86.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Buckingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Buckingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #471 of 484 in NY | — | #243 of 764 in PA |
| School district | HANCOCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | HANCOCK JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.