What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Preble has the most people working from home (16.7%).

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	Preble
People
Population	1,637Highest	1,150Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±6.4Highest 16% above NY	44.8±8.8Lowest 13% above NY
	Reading and Preble 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%	21.1%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Preble 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%	29%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	37.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7%
	Preble 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±$9kHighest about the NY average	$82,083±$20kLowest 5% below NY
	Reading and Preble 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	$176,700±$27kHighest 58% below NY
	Preble 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	$1,278±$194Lowest 21% below NY
	Reading and Preble 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	$4,323Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest NY: 14%	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86%Highest 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	27 minLowest 16% below NY
Work from home	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.7%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Preble 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.