What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most expensive homes ($222k 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	Orange	Reading
People
Population	957Lowest	1,637Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S.	46.3±6.4Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Orange and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S.	$86,131±$9kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$22kHighest 33% below U.S.	$160,200±$37kLowest 52% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,330±$153Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,507±$514Highest 7% above U.S.
	Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,545Highest 14% above U.S.	$3,219Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orange and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Echo Valley Community Union School District #67	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.