Compare towns
Reading vs Summit vs Worcester vs Preble
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Summit has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Worcester has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Summit | Worcester | Preble |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,637 |
976Lowest |
2,149Highest |
1,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.9% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
55.7±7.3Highest 40% above NY |
43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY |
44.8±8.8 13% above NY |
| Summit 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% |
17.7%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
20.3%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
21.1%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Preble and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2 NY: 17.9% |
37.7%±8.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
29%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Summit and Preble 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% |
28.7% NY: 40.2% |
26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7% |
6.3%±3.3 NY: 7% |
| Worcester and Preble 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 |
$74,375±$26k 13% below NY |
$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY |
$82,083±$20k 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±$37k 62% below NY |
$150,000±$29kLowest 65% below NY |
$155,300±$43k 63% 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 |
— | $736±$327Lowest 55% below NY |
$1,278±$194 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 | $3,219 51% below NY |
$2,230Lowest 66% below NY |
$2,602 60% below NY |
$4,323Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
91.8%±41.9 NY: 52.1% |
92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Preble and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NY: 14% |
3.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
21.7%Highest NY: 14% |
5.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
86% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
34 minHighest 3% above NY |
26 minLowest 19% below NY |
27 min 16% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
5.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±4.6 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 | 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.