What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orange has the most affordable homes ($119k median).

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	Orange
People
Population	1,637Highest	1,196Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY	46.6±6.3Highest 17% above NY
	Orange and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	18%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Orange and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.9%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Orange and Reading 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%	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	0%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average	$60,000±$9kLowest 30% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,200±$37kHighest 62% below NY	$119,200±$17kLowest 72% below NY
	Reading and Orange 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	$932±$81Lowest 43% below NY
	Reading and Orange 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	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	66.1%±42.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Orange 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%	12.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	30 minHighest 8% below NY
Work from home	11.7%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%	8.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Reading and Orange 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.