What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

Arcadia has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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	Reading	Arcadia
People
Population	1,637Lowest	13,601Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±6.4Highest 16% above NY	43.7±3.1Lowest 10% above NY
	Reading and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Arcadia and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%	20.3%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Reading and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Reading and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average	$63,398±$5kLowest 26% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,200±$37kHighest 62% below NY	$148,400±$12kLowest 65% below NY
	Reading and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY	$1,002±$86Lowest 38% below NY
	Reading and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,219Lowest 51% below NY	$3,944Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.2%±11.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Arcadia and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%	17.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	70.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	23 minLowest 30% below NY
Work from home	11.7%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%	6.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Reading and Arcadia 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	—	#301 of 484 in NY
School district	—	NEWARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	NEWARK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
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.