Compare towns
Hartwick vs Reading vs Otsego
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartwick has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k 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.
| Measure | Hartwick | Reading | Otsego |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,143 |
1,637Lowest |
3,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.3±5.4 24% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
52.1±5.8Highest 31% above NY |
| Otsego and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3 NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest 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%±2 NY: 17.9% |
31.8%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
53.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
6.2%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Otsego and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,196±$6k 6% below NY |
$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$72,891±$16kLowest 15% below NY |
| 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±$36k 59% below NY |
$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY |
$352,600±$42kHighest 17% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$174Lowest 38% below NY |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$1,205±$165 26% below NY |
| Reading and Otsego 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 |
$3,219 51% below NY |
$4,702Highest 29% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
30.6%±17.8Lowest 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% |
6.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80% NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
70.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 44% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 22.2%±13.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
19.9%±9.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Hartwick and Otsego 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 | — | — | #65 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.