Compare towns
Lempster vs Reading vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Lempster | Reading | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953 |
699Lowest |
1,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2Lowest 31% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
| Reading and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lempster School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.