What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the most expensive homes ($267k 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	Wayne
People
Population	1,637Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Reading and Wayne 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%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,131±$9kLowest about the NY average	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne and Reading 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	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne 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	$1,031±$304Lowest 36% below NY
	Reading and Wayne 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	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne 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%	6.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest 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	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	11.7%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Reading and Wayne 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.