What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartwick has the most people working from home (22.2%).

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	Hartwick	Reading
People
Population	2,143Highest	1,637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.3±5.4Highest 24% above NY	46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY
	Hartwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Reading and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Reading and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	37.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Reading and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,196±$6kLowest 6% below NY	$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average
	Reading and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,500±$36kHighest 59% below NY	$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY
	Hartwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,000±$174Lowest 38% below NY	$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY
	Reading and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,912Lowest 56% below NY	$3,219Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hartwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest NY: 14%	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 44% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	22.2%±13.2Highest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hartwick 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.