What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most expensive homes ($218k 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	Lee	Reading
People
Population	6,074Highest	1,637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY	46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY
	Lee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Reading and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.9%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	4.2%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Lee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,137±$6kHighest 9% above NY	$86,131±$9kLowest about the NY average
	Lee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$217,700±$20kHighest 49% below NY	$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$936±$41Lowest 42% below NY	$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,362Highest 49% below NY	$3,219Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.4%±27.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±19.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Reading and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest NY: 14%	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 8 yrs newer than NY	1967 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 32% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lee and Reading 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	#435 of 484 in NY	—
School district	ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.