Compare towns
Reading vs Buchanan vs Hartwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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%).
Hartwick has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Buchanan | Hartwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,637Lowest |
2,397Highest |
2,143 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% NY: +4.2% |
+3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
38.5±3.5Lowest 3% below NY |
49.3±5.4Highest 24% above NY |
| Hartwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
23%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
13%±3Lowest 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% |
20.5%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Reading and Hartwick 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% |
41.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
5.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest 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±$9k about the NY average |
$128,218±$23kHighest 49% above NY |
$81,196±$6kLowest 6% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY |
$525,500±$55kHighest 24% above NY |
$173,500±$36k 59% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,507±$514 7% below NY |
$1,953±$836Highest 20% above NY |
$1,000±$174Lowest 38% below NY |
| Buchanan and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,219 51% below NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$2,912Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
34%±23 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hartwick and Buchanan 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% NY: 14% |
7.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% NY: 54.3% |
87%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1959Lowest same as NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
18 minLowest 44% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.2%±6 NY: 14.9% |
22.2%±13.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Hartwick and Buchanan 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 | 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.