What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rose has the most kids (25.9% under 18).

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

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	Rose	Reading
People
Population	2,126Highest	1,637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.8±6.8Lowest about the NY average	46.3±6.4Highest 16% above NY
	Reading and Rose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.9%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.2%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Reading and Rose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Reading and Rose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,200±$11kLowest 11% below NY	$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average
	Reading and Rose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$133,800±$29kLowest 68% below NY	$160,200±$37kHighest 62% below NY
	Reading and Rose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,430±$252Lowest 12% below NY	$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY
	Reading and Rose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,434Lowest 63% below NY	$3,219Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.6%±31.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±19.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Reading and Rose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NY: 14%	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	5.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Reading and Rose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	NORTH ROSE-WOLCOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	NORTH ROSE-WOLCOTT HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8	—
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.