What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most affordable homes ($160k median).

Buchanan has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Buchanan
People
Population	1,637Lowest	2,397Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±6.4Highest 16% above NY	38.5±3.5Lowest 3% below NY
	Reading and Buchanan 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%	23%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Buchanan 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%	18.2%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Reading and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	48.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	5.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7%
	Buchanan and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,131±$9kLowest about the NY average	$128,218±$23kHighest 49% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY	$525,500±$55kHighest 24% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,507±$514Lowest 7% below NY	$1,953±$836Highest 20% above NY
	Buchanan and Reading 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	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	34%±23Highest NY: 52.1%
	Buchanan 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%	5.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.2%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Buchanan and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.