What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Hartwick
People
Population	1,637Lowest	2,143Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above 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%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%	13%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Reading and Hartwick 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%	20.5%±3.1Lowest 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%	41.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	3.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Reading and Hartwick 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	$81,196±$6kLowest 6% below NY
	Reading and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY	$173,500±$36kHighest 59% below NY
	Hartwick and Reading 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	$1,000±$174Lowest 38% below NY
	Reading and Hartwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,219Highest 51% below NY	$2,912Lowest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.1%±25.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hartwick 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%	7.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	80%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	18 minLowest 44% below NY
Work from home	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.2%±13.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hartwick 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.