Compare towns
Reading vs Cornish vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Cornish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,816Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Cornish School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.